RARY 

RSITY  OF 

FORNIA 

DIEGO 


y/  /  *^  /*wi~       r    ^  y 

/  ^^r  /   / 

^2./     l^rZ^t**--^ 

>  //   ^ 

&^./f*/-  -yz- 

— ~    ^x 


THE  ROMANTIC  STORY 


DAVID  ROBERTSON, 

AMONG    THE     ISLANDS,    OFF    AND    ON    THE 
COAST    OF    MAINE. 


BY 

CAPT.  JOHN   PENDLETON    FARROW. 

ISI.ESBORO,      MAINE. 


BELFAST,  MAINE: 

PRESS  OF  BELFAST  AGE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
1898. 


PREFACE. 

The  following  interesting  story,  strongly  protrays 
the  life  and  customs  among  the  hardy  sailors  and  fisher- 
men, who  fiftv  years  ago  were  to  be  found  along  our 
entire  New  England  coast.  It  is  written  in  that 
dialed,  and  with  phrases  then  common  with  those 
hardy  followers  of  the  sea.  The  story  was  written  by 
Capt.  John  P.  Farrow  of  Islesboro,  who  for  many  years 
has  lived  and  followed  the  ocean  with  these  people, 
whose  deeds  of  daring  and  heroism  have  done  so  much 
to  enrich  American  history.  Capt.  Farrow  was  born 
in  Islesboro,  and  received  a  liberal  education  at  Belfast, 
Maine,  and  at  Cambridge,  *Mass.  At  an  early  age  he 
began  following  the  ocean,  and  being  a  great  student  of 
human  nature  and  possessed  of  a  retentive  memory  he 
retired  after  a  long  and  honorable  career  on  the  ocean, 
with  a  well  stored  mind  of  incidents  and  reminiscences, 
which  he  put  into  manuscript  form,  and  at  the  solicita- 
tion of  his  friends  he  consented  to  place  this  book  before 
the  public.  In  writing  this  book  he  has  drawn  but 
little  from  imagination,  as  all  of  the  principal  aclors 
were  people  who  were  known  personally  to  the  author. 
In  placing  this  book  before  the  public  it  is  confidently 
believed  that  the  reader  will  find  much  of  historical  in- 
terest and  value  and  preserve  a  history  of  a  people  who 
were  once  a  distinctive  class,  but  who  today  are  fast 
conforming  to  modern  forms  and  ways,  by  a  closer  con- 
tact with  a  busy  world  which  is  fast  encroaching  upon 
their  hitherto  secluded  homes.  F.  I.  W. 

COPYRIGHT   A1TL1KD    FOR. 


CHAPTER    I. 

REMINISCENCES  and  history  of  David 
Robertson  who  spent  more  than  twenty 
years  on  an  island  situated  on  the  eastern 
coast  of  Maine,  occupying  his  time  in  summer 
in  his  fishing  boat  with  his  gun  and  dog,  being 
upwards  of  seventy  years  of  age  before  he 
received  his  orders  from  the  Great  Com- 
mander for  his  watch  below. 

David  was  born  near  one  of  the  tributary 
streams  of  the  Kennebec  River  in  Maine,  in 
the  year  1815.  His  father  came  of  the 
Puritan  stock  and  was  a-  strong  advocate  for 
the  purity  of  his  religion.  He  did  not 
believe  in  sparing  the  rod  and  spoiling  the 
child.  David  came  in  for  more  than  his 
share  of  the  rod  in  his  own  estimation. 
David  seemed  or  appeared  to  "take  out  of 


4          THK    HOMANTK     STORY    OK     DAVID     KOBKKTSOX. 

kin,"  making  very  little  talk  and  being  quiet 
and  reserved  in  manners,  while  his  noisy 
brothers  generally  managed  to  have  the 
blame  laid  on  David  when  things  went  wrong. 

His  mother  would  sometimes  advoeate 
David's  cause,  but  generally  let  Mr.  Robertson 
correct  the  children  as  he  thought  best,  her 
time  being  occupied  with  looking  after  the 
small  children,  one  for  every  other  year  of 
her  married  life,  with  the  last  one  or  baby  in 
her  arms  shoving  his  little  fist  in  her  hair 
trying  to  see  how  much  he  could  pull  out. 

One  day  David  saw  Mrs.  Brown's  geese  in 
his  father's  grain  field.  He  threw  a  stone  at 
them  and  unexpectedly  killed  one  of  the 
geese.  He  immediately  went  to  Mrs.  Brown 
and  offered  to  do  anything  that  he  could  for 
her  to  pay  the  damage,  saying  to  her  he  was 
very  sorry.  Mrs.  Brown  said  to  him,  "Never 
mind,  say  nothing  about  it."  Sometime  after, 
his  father  hearing  about  it  gave  David  a 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBKRTSON.  ^ 

whipping  because  he  had  not  told  him. 
David  in  reply  said,  "  There  must  be  some 
place  better  than  home  for  me,''  brooding 
over  his  wrongs  that  were  real  or  imaginary, 
the  whole  winter. 

What  few  days  he  could  go  to  school — he 
studied  hard  and  excelled  in  mathematics  and 
geography,  with  his  mind  made  up  that  it  would 
be  his  last  winter  at  home.  Things  went  from 
bad  to  worse  and  his  father  gave  him  more  of 
the  drudgery  to  do  than  was  his  share  "to  take 
the  sulks  out  of  him  "  he  said. 

He  did  not  understand  David  when  all  he 
wanted  was  a  kind  word  or  some  encourage- 
ment; then  how  willingly  he  would  have 
done  his  duty,  but  the  blue  laws  of  those 
days  must  be  obeyed,  viz.  spare  the  rod  and 
spoil  the  child. 

This  winter  of  1828  was  the  mildest  ever 
known.  Mr.  Robertson  was  employed  at  cut- 
ting logs  to  haul  to  the  saw  mill  to  make  boards 


6          THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

and  shingles  to  build  a  framed  house  to  take 
the  place  of  the  log  house  built  by  his  father. 

David  now  being  thirteen  years  old  was 
large  enough  to  do  the  teaming,  with  two 
yoke  of  oxen,  to  the  mill  five  miles  away, 
making  two  trips  a  day.  His  father  could 
not  spare  him  from  the  team  to  go  to  school, 
as  Mr.  Robertson's  means  were  limited  with 
his  large  family. 

Everything  they  ate  besides  barley  bread 
and  potatoes  with  milk,  was  considered  a 
luxury.  Mr.  Robertson  gave  his  son  David 
no  praise,  but  was  quick  to  censure  him  if 
anything  went  wrong. 

David  being  sensitive  and  doing  more 
thinking  than  talking,  became  moody  and 
peevish,  his  disposition  soured  which  lasted 
him  to  a  certain  extent  all  through  his  life, 
but  a  kinder  boy  or  man  the  sun  never  shone  on.- 
Here  can  be  applied  the  old  maxim  with  truth. 
''  Just  as  the  twig  is  bent  the  tree's  inclined." 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.  7 

The  spring  was  early  and  labor  hard  and 
unremitting  was  the  lot  of  Mr.  Robertson  and 
his  family,  while  Mrs.  Robertson  had  to  cook, 
wash,  spin,  weave  and  take  care  of  her  dairy. 
If  she  had  had  time  to  think,  it  would  have 
discouraged  a  saint,  but  born  of  hardy  New 
England  stock,  she  went  about  her  work  with 
a  cheerful  animated  countenance,  and  when 
a  neighbor  would  drop  in  for  a  few  minutes' 
chat,  her  pleasant  face  beamed  with  happi- 
ness and  her  tongue  run  nineteen  to  a  dozen. 

On  winter  evenings,  the  family  sitting 
around  the  old  fireplace,  with  half  a  cord  of 
wood  piled  on  the  fire  dogs,  seemed  to  enjoy 
life,  notwithstanding  the  hardships  they  had 
to  endure.  Such  was  the  home  David  was 
about  to  leave,  and  in  after  years  the  old 
kitchen  would  come  vividly  to  his  mind 
when  sitting  in  his  cabin,  and  the  scene  was 
never  forgotten  by  him  as  long  as  he  lived. 

In  the  early  spring,  no  busier  place  could 


8          TMK    ROMANTIC    STOKY    OK    DAVID    ROBKKTSON. 

be  found  than  the  Robertson  homestead  get- 
ting ready  to  build  the  new  house,  and  on 
no  account  must  the  farm  work  be  neglected. 
So  up  and  at  it  early  and  late  were  Mr.  Rob- 
ertson and  his  boys.  Inheriting  the  vigorous 
constitution  of  their  Scotch,  Irish  and  English 
ancestors,  they  were  capable  of  enduring  pri- 
vations and  hardships  of  the  severest  kind;  but 
the  hard  work  and  meager  fare  was  at  last  too 
much  even  for  David's  inherited  constitution. 

One  afternoon  when  plowing  in  the  field  he 
said  to  his  father,  "  I  am  sick  and  want  to  go 
home  and  tomorrow  I  will  be  able  to  finish 
the  plowing."  His  father  replied,  "David, 
you  are  sulky  and  want  to  shirk  your  work," 
but  reluctantly  told  him  to  put  the  team  up 
and  go  home.  Next  day  David  was  taken 
down  with  a  fever. 

This  was  the  last  work  he  ever  did  on  the 
old  home  farm.  The  scenes  enadted  here  are 
only  a  repetition  of  many  similar  scenes  on 


1  HE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID     ROBERTSON.          9 

the  old  New  England  farms.  Is  it  any  won- 
der that  their  sons  want  to  leave  their  rural 
and  paternal  homes  and  look  for  greener 
pastures  in  other  lands?  David's  fever  had  a 
run  of  twenty-one  days.  He  had  no  do6tor 
to  give  him  drugs  and  bleed  his  life  awav. 

With  his  strong  constitution  and  good  nurs- 
ing and  nourishment,  he  soon  became  conva- 
lescent. His  father  had  seen  but  little  of 
him  during  his  sickness,  but  when  he  found 
that  he  was  improving  fast,  he  said  to  him, 
"  Your  sickness  has  put  us  back  with  our 
spring  work  and  I  expecl:  you  to  help  us  as 
soon  as  you  are  able."  David  replied,  "Father, 
I  shall  never  help  you  any  more.  I  shall  go 
awav  tomorrow."  His  father  was  dumb- 

*/ 

founded  to  hear  this  from  David  who  had 
never  given  him  a  word  back  in  his  life. 

Next  morning  when  the  day  star  arose, 
David,  with  a  bundle  containing  a  shirt  and  a 
pair  of  stockings,  with  two  Spanish  milled 


1O       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

dollars  in  his  pocket,  the   tears  running  down 
his  cheeks,  started  and  walked  away. 

When  it  was  known  that  David  was  gone, 
Mrs.  Robertson  went  into  hysterics.  Mr. 
Robertson  sat  gloomy,  dismal  and  melancholv, 
and  the  once  happy  home  of  the  Robertsons 
was  broken. 


CHAPTER     II. 

SKIPPER  Davis  was  a  short,  thick-set 
man  past  sixty  years  of  age,  once  a 
sailor  now  a  fisherman.  His  dress  when  on 
shore  was  a  short,  blue  jacket  with  white  pearl 
buttons,  a  blue  shirt  with  a  wide  collar,  a  black 
silk  handkerchief  tied  in  a  square  knot,  and  if 
he  had  a  waistcoat,  no  one  ever  saw  him  wear- 
ing it.  His  trousers  were  big  enough  in  the  legs 
to  hold  the  shanks  or  legs  of  a  man  that  was 
twice  the  size  of  Skipper  Davis.  On  his  head 
he  wore  a  tarpaulin  hat,  his  shoes  or  pumps 
as  he  called  them,  were  ornamented  with 
silver  buckles,  his  hair  once  black  was  now 
gray  and  hung  in  curls  on  his  shoulders,  and 
he  had  rings  in  his  ears  representing  foul 
anchors.  One  leg  being  two  inches  shorter 
than  the  other  gave  him  a  list  to  port,  and  his 


1J       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

rolling  gait  made  him  conspicuous.  He  was 
a  jolly,  merry  and  hail  fellow  well  met,  and 
well  known  from  Saccarappa  to  Quoddy  Head. 
His  boat  was  known  in  those  days  as  a  Chec- 
bacco  boat,  deriving  its  name  from  the  place 
where  it  was  built.  His  crew,  to  use  Skipper 
Davis'  own  words  "when  he  called  the  watch, 
out  come  one  people."  His  man  by  the  name 
of  Jackson,  he  had  picked  up  somewhere  years 
bef6re,  and  abbreviated  his  name  to  Jack.  How 
old  he  was  or  where  he  came  from  was  never 
known.  If  Jack  ever  had  known,  he  had  for- 
gotten it. 

In  the  township  of  Bristol  near  the  shore 
of  Muscongus  Sound  was  situated  the  cottage 
of  Skipper  Davis.  His  wife,  who  was  hale 
and  hearty,  although  more  than  sixty  years  of 
age,  was  known  as  Aunt  Nancy.  A  more 
motherly  or  kinder  old  lady  was  not  to  be 
found.  "  Her  price  is  far  above  rubies,  she 
openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom,"  administer- 


THE    ROMANTIC     STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        13 

ing  comfort  in  the  time  of  trouble  to  all  the 
neighborhood,  loved  and  respected  by  the  old 
and  young. 

Davis  lived  a  neighbor  to  Commodore  Sam- 
uel Tucker,  who  moved  from  Boston  to  Bristol 
in  1793,  and  died  there  March  loth,  1833. 
Skipper  Davis  and  Aunt  Nancy  were  frequent 
visitors  to  the  Commodore's  house,  where  they 
always  received  a  royal  welcome.  The  Com- 
modore was  held  in  great  veneration  by  Skip- 
per Davis,  who  would  swear  for  him,  fight 
for  him  and  die  for  him  if  necessary. 

The  Skipper  was  with  the  Commodore  in 
the  Increase  at  the  time  he  captured  the 
privateer.  Crown  of  Halifax,  April  26th, 
1813,  and  this  was  honor  enough  for  him. 
lie  was  never  tired  of  telling  the  story  while 
he  lived,  and  all  his  intimate  acquaintances 
knew  the  story  as  well  as  he  did. 

Another  story  the  skipper  frequently  used  to 
tell  was  aboiH  the  Commodore,  representing 


14       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

himself  as  one  of  the  principal  a6tors  of  the 
scene.  He  had  told  it  so  often  that  he  be- 
lieved it  himself,  whether  it  was  true  or  not. 
The  Skipper  said,  "We  had  trouble  with  the 
proprietors  regarding  the  running  of  the 
boundary  lines  and  determined  to  have  our 
rights  if  we  had  to  tight  for  them.  We  called 
a  meeting  to  see  what  we  could  do  in  regard 
to  the  matter.  The  meeting  was  in  front  of 
the  school  house,  where  a  farmer's  empty  two 
wheeled  cart  was  used  for  the  speakers. 
After  several  had  spoken,  loud  calls  for 
Tucker  were  heard  from  all  sides.  I  helped 
the  Commodore  to  mount  the  cart,  when  up 
went  the  tongue  and  out  we  went,  head,  neck 
and  heels  a-hoy.  The  Commodore's  speech 

was    "  I'll    be    d d,"    when    an    uproar    of 

laughter  broke  up  the  meeting." 

Skipper  Davis'  besetting  sin  was  his  love 
for  Medford  rum,  and  once  in  a  while  it  would 
get  the  better  of  him,  causing  his  nose  to 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        15 

have  a  vermillion  hue,  showing  a  tendency 
to  bud  and  blossom.  When  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  beverage  to  a  moderate  extent, 
the  effe6t  it  produced  on  him  was  to  make 
him  clever,  well  disposed,  kind  and  honest; 
but  taken  in  large  doses  and  often,  it  gave 
him  plenty  of  courage  without  sense.  Such 
was  the  man  that  David  served  his  time  with 
for  two  years  as  a  fishing  lad. 

When  the  sun  rose  David  was  miles  away 
on  his  way  down  river.  The  beautiful  spring 
morning  revived  him,  the  road  was  new  to 
him  and  the  scene  was  enchanting  with  now 
and  then  a  glimpse  of  the  river.  Hope  told 
flattering  tales,  but  his  mind  would  revert  to 
the  old  log  house,  and  he  almost  wished  him- 
self back.  He  could  not  help  the  tears  com- 
ing to  his  eyes.  A  diversity  of  scenery 
greeted  him  while  plodding  his  way  down  the 
river  road  and  to  a  certain  extent  diverted  his 
mind  from  his  old  home.  On  either  side  of 


1 6       THK     ItOMAN'I  K      STORY     <>!•     DAVID   ROBERTSON. 

the  road  grew  stately  pines  which  were  sylvan 
and  rustic.  Nature  was  seen  here  in  all  her 
simplicity  and  beauty. 

The  sun  was  about  two  hours  high  when 
David  came  to  a  clearing,  showing  a  farm 
house.  He  saw  a  woman  going  to  the  well 
and  went  to  her  assistance,  carrying  the  pails 
of  water  to  the  house,  and  said  to  her,  tf  I 
would  like  to  do  the  chores  for  a  bowl  of 
bread  and  milk."  She  not  only  got  him  the 
bread  and  milk  but  the  best  she  had  cooked 
besides.  The  benevolence  and  attention  to 
strangers  in  the  humble  cottages  of  the  New 
England  settlers  are  without  precedent  in  the 
world. 

David  offered  his  services  to  the  good 
housewife  in  return  for  what  he  considered 
his  sumptuous  fare.  His  appetite  was  good, 
having  so  lately  recovered  from  the  fever.  It 
was  really  an  enjoyment  for  this  good  woman 
to  stuff  David,  but  womanlike  she  could  not 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.        17 

help  being  inquisitive  and  trying  to  find  out 
who  David  was  and  where  he  was  going. 

There  was  no  ingratitude  in  David,  and 
when  she  began  to  ask  him  questions,  he  hung 
his  head  and  looked  so  sorrowful  that  her 
sympathy  got  the  better  of  her  inquisitiveness. 
David  in  his  homely  way  thanked  her,  his 
looks  expressing  his  gratitude.  He  then 
picked  up  his  bundle  and  once  more  began 
his  tramp  down  the  river  road. 

After  walking  a  mile  or  more,  he  thought 
his  bundle  seemed  heavier  and  looked  larger, 
and  on  investigation,  he  found  a  barley  loaf 
with  a  piece  of  cheese  of  liberal  size.  How 
well  such  women  are  described  by  Solomon, 
viz:  rr  She  stretcheth  out  her  hands  to  the 
poor  and  needy." 

David  continued  on  his  way  until  the  sun 
was  past  the  meridian.  Here  the  road 
assumed  a  different  aspect,  the  primal  forest 
trees  having  been  cut  down.  When  an  abrupt 


1 8       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

turn  in  the  road  opened  to  his  view  the  river 
town,  he  regarded  it  with  admiration  and 
some  surprise. 

He  continued  on  a  mile  or  more  before 
arriving  at  the  town.  The  scene  was  fascinat- 
ing and  for  a  time  bewildered  him.  There 
were  several  vessels  building,  some  of  them 
of  large  size  which  particularly  attracted  his 
attention.  Looking  at  them  with  wonder  and 
surprise,  not  gazing  or  staring  at  them  with 
impudence  but  with  amazement,  he  finally 
went  down  to  the  wharf  where  Skipper 
Davis'  Checbacco's  boat  lay.  The  man  Jack 
was  at  work  taking  in  freight  alone. 

The  boat  was  five  or  six  feet  below  the 
wharf  where  it  necessitated  Jack's  getting 
from  the  boat  to  the  wharf  every  time  he 
hoisted  a  bag  or  box  on  board.  Skipper  Davis 
was  up  town  with  his  cronies  drinking  Med- 
ford  rum,  entertaining  the  company  with 
anecdotes  of  Commodore  Tucker,  leaving 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        19 

Jack  to  get  the  freight  on  board  as  best  he 
could. 

David,  looking  on  and  ever  willing  to  lend 
a  helping  hand,  asked  Jack  if  he  should  not 
help  him.  Jack  was  only  too  willing  to  have 
help,  so  David  took  hold  with  a  will  and 
stayed  on  the  wharf  to  sling  the  bags  and 
bales  while  Jack  hoisted  them  on  board  with 
the  throat  halyards.  David  slung  the  first 
bag  with  a  horse  knot,  which  brought  some 
criticism  from  Jack,  but  a  better  knot  to  sling 
a  bag  with  has  not  been  found  since  Noah 
took  his  cruise  in  the  Ark.  When  the  freight 
was  all  on  board,  and  David  had  helped  Jack 
stow  it  away  in  the  hold  and  clear  up  decks, 
Jack  said,  r<!Now  we  will  go  below  and  get 
supper.'" 

The  boat  cuddy  was  large,  it  being  a 
fisherman  with  accommodations  for  six  men. 
There  was  a  brick  fireplace  with  the  chimney 
extending  to  the  deck.  The  residue  above 


2O       THK     KOMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

the  deck  was  boards.  David  built  a  fire  while 
Jack  stirred  up  an  Indian  Johnny  cake,  put  it 
in  a  Dutch  oven  and  clapped  on  the  iron  cover, 
then  buried  it  in  the  ashes  and  coals.  He  then 
put  on  the  potatoes  in  a  baking  kettle  and 
hung  them  on  the  crane,  frying  the  pork  in 
the  skillet,  made  the  tea,  and  the  supper  was 
complete.  The  table  was  hung  with  leather 
hinges,  and  it  folded  up  against  the  foremast, 
where  it  was  out  of  the  way  when  not  in  use. 
When  supper  was  ready  Jack  went  after  the 
Skipper,  leaving  David  to  keep  ship.  When 
Jack  found  the  Skipper,  he  was  mellow,  tend- 
ing towards  intoxication,  but  would  at  once 
have  resented  being  told  that  he  was  drunk. 
He  would  never  acknowledge  that  he  was 
ever  in  that  situation.  His  pumps  were  rights 
and  lefts,  and  by  some  mishap  he  had  got 
them  on  the  wrong  feet,  which  he  never 
would  have  done  if  he  had  not  been  hot. 
(an  expression  invariably  used  in  those  days 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID    HOBKRTSON.        21 

for  inebriety.)  Jack  got  him  aboard  and  down 
in  the  cuddy  when  the  heat  overcame  him. 
Jack  with  the  help  of  David  got  him  into  his 
berth,  where  he  passed  the  night  in  oblivion, 
muttering  something  about  the  Commodore 
which  was  unintelligible. 

An  epicure  wholly  given  to  luxury  could 
not  have  enjoyed  a  supper  more  than  did 
David  this  meagre  fare.  Extremes  met  in  the 
character  of  Jack  and  David,  Jack  doing  all 
the  talking,  David  the  thinking.  The  even- 
ing spent  in  the  cuddy  was  congenial  to  both. 
It  was  late  that  night  when  they  turned  in. 
The  berths  were  hard,  but  David  had  hardly 
laid  his  head  on  the  apology  for  a  pillow  be- 
fore he  was  sound  asleep. 


CHAPTER    III. 

EARLY  the  following  morning  the 
wind  was  to  the  northward  blowing 
down  river  when  Skipper  Davis  turned  out, 
calling  Jack.  When  Jack  went  on  deck,  he 
was  followed  by  David  and  explained  to  the 
Skipper  where  David  caine  from,  and  that  he 
wanted  to  go  with  them.  Skipper  Davis 
questioned  David  whose  simple,  plain  state- 
ment and  artless  manner  at  once  enlisted  the 
Skipper  in  his  favor.  David  was  shipped  with- 
out due  form  for  a  cruise  in  the  Checbacco 
boat,  Skipper  Davis  commanding.  No  fisher- 
man's stores  fora  cruise  would  have  been  com- 
plete without  a  liberal  supply  of  Medford  or  its 
equivalent  of  West  India  or  New  England  rum. 
It  was  the  universal  practice  of  the  first  settlers, 
and  it  was  used  bv  them  on  all  occasions. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        23 

Skipper  Davis  went  below  and  mixed  him- 
self a  hearty  draught  of  black  strap  (a  mix- 
ture of  rum  and  molasses)  came  on  deck  and 
gave  his  orders  to  get  under  way.  David  did 
the  best  he  could  to  help,  but  invariably  get- 
ting in  the  way.  The  orders  of  the  Skipper 
were  Greek  to  him,  so  he  went  round  after 
Jack  getting  a  tail  hold  when  he  could. 

The  boat  rilled  away  from  the  wharf,  then 
keeping  her  off  to  head  down  the  river,  when 
over  came  the  foresail  and  almost  knocked 
the  daylights  out  of  David,  notwithstanding 
the  Skipper's  warnings  to  look  out  for  it. 
The  wind  was  blowing  a  fresh  breeze,  the  air 
was  exhilarating  and  the  trees  along  the  banks 
of  the  river  clothed  in  verdure.  The  scene  was 
a  pleasure  and  a  delight  to  David.  The  boat 
running  before  the  wind,  winged  out,  or  as 
Skipper  Davis  defined  it,  ''cross  legged  and 
split  open/' 

Jack  went  below  to  get  breakfast,  and  the 


24       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

Skipper  called  David  aft  and  began  to  give 
him  a  nautical  catechism.  He  would  occas- 
ionally take  a  bottle  out  of  the  binnacle  for  a 
pull  at  it.  The  nautical  phrases  that  the 
Skipper  used  were  all  beyond  David's  com- 
prehension. Then  Jack  came  on  deck  to 
take  the  tiller,  and  the  Skipper  went  below 
to  breakfast.  When  he  had  finished,  he 
relieved  Jack  and  David  and  Jack  breakfasted 
together.  After  clearing  up  the  cuddy  and 
making  all  tidy,  they  went  on  deck.  The 
morning  breeze  was  dying  out  and  before 
noon  it  was  calm. 

The  skipper  was  in  a  fair  way  for  the  rum 
to  get  the  better  of  him  again  when  they 
anchored  off  Parker's  Flats.  His  tongue  got 
thick  and  his  senses  were  fast  leaving  him, 
when  he  called  David  to  administer  the 
Neptune  oath  to  make  a  sailor  of  him  in  due 
form:  "You,  David  Robertson,  will  never  row 
when  you  can  sail,  will  never  walk  when 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.        25 

you  can  ride,  will  never  kiss  the  maid  when 
you  can  the  mistress.  When  you  are  boarded 
by  Neptune  and  he  wants  to  know  if  you  are 
one  of  his  subjects,  you  tell  him  you  took  the 
oath  off  Parker's  Flats  in  1828  administered 
by  Skipper  Davis."  The  Skipper  then  said  it 
was  his  watch  below  and  turned  in. 

After  dinner  the  wind  breezed  up  to  the 
southwest,  which  was  a  fair  wind  and  Jack 
said,  "  It's  too  bad  to  lay  here.  If  we  could 
start  now,  we  would  be  home  by  sunset.  I 
have  a  good  mind  to  try  it."  After  talking 
the  matter  over  for  half  an  hour  or  more, 
Jack  concluded  to  start  and  abide  the  conse- 
quences. They  got  the  anchor  and  rilled 
away.  The  boat  was  forty  tons,  and  Jack  felt 
the  responsibility  of  his  situation  with  only 
David  to  help,  who  hardly  knew  which  end 
went  first,  but  with  a  fair  wind  and  daylight 
he  could  hardly  go  wrong. 

After  passing  Seguin,  they  found  a  heavy 


26       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

swell  heaving  in  from  sea.  David  turned  pale 
but  said  nothing.  Presently  with  his  head  over 
the  rail,  he  was  emptying  his  stomach  over- 
board. They  soon  reached  smoother  water 
under  the  lea  of  Damiscove  Islands,  when 
David  felt  better.  The  wind  that  had  been 
fresh  was  now  moderating.  A  bank  of  fog 
was  heaving  up  in  the  southeast  which  was 
causing  Jack  some  uneasiness.  After  passing 
the  Damiscoves,  he  steered  for  Pcmaquid 
which  he  made  all  right. 

It  was  now  night  and  the  fog  had  shut  in. 
and  he  sent  David  below  to  call  the  Skipper. 
His  eight  hours  sleep  below  had  sobered  him. 
but  when  he  turned  out,  he  was  as  dry  as  a 
tish.  He  was  surprised  and  astonished  when 
he  came  on  deck  and  Jack  showed  him  Pema- 
quid.  At  ten  o'clock  the}'  were  at  anchor  off 
Skipper  Davis"  house.  They  set  the  Skipper 
ashore,  then  Jack  and  David  turned  in  on 
board  the  boat. 


TIIK    I'.OMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.        2j 

The  next  day  they  hauled  in  to  the  wharf 
and  discharged  the  freight.  The  Skipper  with 
his  friend  the  Commodore  were  first  on  the 
wharf,  soon  followed  by  the  neighbors,  where 
hand  shaking  and  familiar  greetings  were  ex- 
changed. Each  one  had  to  look  after  his 
freight  as  it  was  hoisted  out,  and  settle  his  bill 
with  the  Skipper. 

After  discharging,  Jack  and  David  went  to 
the  Skipper's  house  to  get  their  dinner. 
David's  bashfulness  or  rustic  modesty  made 
him  uncomfortable.  When  he  went  into  the 
house.  Aunt  Nancy  passed  him  a  chair.  lie 
sat  down  on  the  edge  of  the  chair,  put  his 
feet  on  the  rounds,  hung  down  his  head,  acting 
awkward  and  gawky.  Aunt  Nancy  pitied  him 
and  did  the  best  she  could  to  make  him  com- 
fortable. The  dinner  was  soon  ready  and  the 
invitation  was  given  to  r  set  In."  When 
IX-ivid  took  his  chair  to  the  table,  he  did  not 
place  it  near  enough,  and  did  not  know  what 


28       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

to  do  with  his  hands.  Aunt  Nancy  helped 
him  with  more  than  a  liberal  supply  of  whole- 
some viands.  David  was  as  hungry  as  a  bear. 
He  was  cutting  up  his  beef  in  junks  nearly 
the  size  of  his  mouth,  when  an  accident 
occurred — his  plate  was  near  the  edge  of  the 
table,  when  he  upset  it  and  the  contents  were 
spilled  with  his  cup  of  tea  at  the  same  time 
on  Aunt  Nancy's  white  floor.  His  face 
turned  red,  the  same  hue  as  the  Skipper's 
nose.  The  Skipper  and  Jack  roared  with 
laughter  at  this  ludicrous  scene. 

David  left  the  table,  but  the  loving  kindness 
and  tenderness  of  Aunt  Nancy  were  soon 
manifest.  She  picked  up  the  beef  and  pota- 
toes, wiped  up  the  floor  and  said  to  David, 
'You  never  mind  a  little  accident  like  that." 
After  some  persuasion  she  got  him  back  to 
the  table,  succeeding  in  getting  him  near 
enough  to  the  table  this  time,  to  avoid  similar 
accidents.  Owing  to  David's  bashfulness  lie 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY     OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        29 

did  not  eat  half  as  much  as  he  wanted.  Aunt 
Nancy  tried  to  coax  him  to  eat  more,  but  he 
said  he  had  eaten  all  he  wanted,  which  was 
the  biggest  lie  he  ever  told  in  his  life. 

After  Jack  had  finished  his  dinner  he 
went  on  board  the  boat  leaving  David,  saying 
to  him,  "You  can  do  the  chores  for  Aunt 
Nancy."  Seeing  a  lot  of  uncut  wood  in  the 
dooryard,  he  took  the  axe  and  went  at  it, 
working  away  cutting  the  wood  until  Aunt 
Nancy  called  him  to  supper,  which  he  managed 
to  eat  without  any  accident,  but  keeping  his 
taciturn  manner  because  it  was  natural  to  him. 
After  supper  he  went  to  the  spring  and 
brought  the  water  and  night's  wood  with 
plenty  of  kindling.  He  was  tired  and  sleepy. 
Aunt  Nancy  showed  him  to  a  neat  and  cosy 
chamber  under  the  eaves  of  the  cottage,  say- 
ing in  her  pleasant  way,  "Good  night,  David, 
don't  get  up  until  breakfast  is  ready,  then  I 
will  call  you." 


30       THK    KOMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

On  the  following  morning  David  was  up 
with  the  Sun.  He  went  down  to  the  kitchen 
and  was  making  the  fire  when  Aunt  Nancy 
got  up.  David  was  not  only  willing  but  glad 
to  help  her  in  any  way  he  coulcl  with  the 
breakfast.  Aunt  Nancy  had  already  begun  to 
appreciate  his  character  and  to  regard  him 
with  an  affe6tion  which  was  reciprocated  by 
David. 

The  Skipper  and  his  house  were  getting 
old.  and  some  parts  of  the  cottage  needed  re- 
pairing. David  was  born  a  natural  mechanic. 
He  spent  the  day  doing  odd  jobs  for  Aunt 
Nancy  about  the  cottage,  which  was  congen- 
ial to  him,  besides  being  a  pleasure  to  Aunt 
Nancy  to  have  things  fixed,  which  had  been 
out  of  repair  more  or  less  for  years. 

It  was  night  when  Skipper  Davis  came 
home.  He  had  bought  sea-boots,  oil  skins 
and  a  sou'wester  for  David,  and  said  to  him. 

\Vc  are  getting  ready   for  a  fishing  trip  and 


THE    ROMANTIC     STORY    OF    DAVID    KOBKRTSOX.       31 

expert  to  sail  tomorrow  for  the  banks."  The 
cruise  generally  lasted  four  or  live  weeks.  It 
was  the  usual  practice  of  the  fishermen's 
boats  of  the  class  of  Skipper  Davis'  to  make 
two  trips  or  fares  to  the  banks  in  the  summer 
months.  In  the  spring  and  fall  they  went 
shore  fishing  and  hauled  up  in  the  winter. 
When  the  boats  were  fitted  out  for  the  banks, 
they  were  loaded  with  their  outfits  as  deep  as 
on  their  return  with  fish. 

Skipper  Davis'  crew  of  six  men  were  all 
old  hands  and  had  been  with  him  to  the  banks 
for  years  and  had  never  failed  of  getting  a 
fare  of  fish.  On  board  vessels  at  sea  the  cap- 
tain's authority  is  absolute,  depending  on  his 
own  will,  but  on  board  a  fisherman,  although 
the  skipper  has  charge,  he  consults  his  crew, 
because  their  interests  are  mutual.  They 
obey  his  orders  when  underway  or  going  to 
or  from  the  fishing  ground.  When  employed 
in  fishing  all  are  anxious  to  get  a  fare  of  fish 


32       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

and  everyone  does  as  he  pleases,  Jack  being 
as  good  as  his  master. 

Anchored  on  the  banks,  rolling  and  pitch- 
ing for  weeks,  the  scene  is  monotonous,  in 
heavy  weather  and  dark  nights  weird,  gloomy 
and  dismal,  looking  forward  with  a  longing 
for  the  last  hamper  of  salt  to  be  wet,  when 
they  can  start  for  home.  On  Sunday  when 
there  are  other  fishermen  in  their  vicinity, 
they  visit  each  other  (which  fishermen  call 
coveing)  spending  the  day  swapping  yarns,  or 
telling  of  their  remarkable  adventures  by  sea 
and  land.  One  of  the  principal  amusements 
they  have  is  spinning  yarns  (instead  of  wool 
they  use  froth)  and  they  are  always  ready  to 
swear  to  them  as  fa6ts. 

One  of  Skipper  Davis1  men  was  known  as 
Captain  Ben.  He  could  spin  more  yarns  than 
any  other  man  in  the  State  of  Maine,  and  was 
always  received  as  a  welcome  visitor  on  board 
the  fishermen.  According  to  his  story  he 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON".       33 

had  sailed  the  world  round  in  every  capacity 
from  cabin  boy  to  commodore. 

Here  is  an  illustration  of  one  of  his  yarns: 
Capt.  Ben  said,  "  When  I  was  mate  of  the 
ship  Albion,  we  were  scudding  out  a  typhoon 
in  the  China  sea  when  I  took  the  wheel,  not 
daring  to  trust  a  man  aboard  to  steer  her.  I 
saw  a  big  sea  coming  and  said  to  the  Captain, 
'  Look  out  there !  That  sea  is  a  going  to  poop 
this  ship.'  When  the  sea  struck  her  I  landed 
in  the  cat  harpings  with  ten  feet  of  the  rudder 
head,  and  all  of  the  stearing  apparatus.  The 
Captain  sang  out,  '  Hard  up,  hard  up!  Mister 
Ben,  for  God's  sake !  *  *  *  What  is  the  use  of 
harding  up  when  I  have  got  the  wheel  up  here 
with  me." 

Skipper  Davis  excelled  in  navigation,  which 
was  exceptional  in  skippers  of  fishermen  of 
those  times.  Marine  clocks  had  not  been 
invented  and  each  skipper  provided  himself 
with  a  watch  which  was  indispensible  to  him. 


34       THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID   ROBERTSON. 

Skipper  Davis  was  considered  to  be  a  man  of 
great  ability  by  the  fishermen  on  account  of 
his  nautical  science.  When  he  came  on  deck 
with  his  quadrant  to  get  the  true  time  or  hour 
as  indicated  by  the  sun's  passage  over  the 
meridian,  it  was  more  than  the  average  fisher- 
man could  comprehend.  The  name  invariably 
given  to  his  instrument  was  the  Skipper's  hog- 
yoke. 


CHAPTER     IV. 

BEFORE  the  time  came  for  David  to  go 
on  board,  Aunt  Nancy  had  got  a  fit- 
out  for  David.  She  had  got  a  sea  chest  that 
once  belonged  to  the  Skipper,  putting  in  a  bed 
quilt  and  pillow,  besides  clothes,  stockings 
and  mittens,  with  a  box  containing  buttons, 
needles  and  thread.  When  he  started  to  go, 
Aunt  Nancy  bade  him  good  bye  with  a  bene- 
diaion  of  "God  bless  you,  David."  He 
responded  in  his  homely  way,  his  heart  over- 
Mowing  with  gratitude.  It  was  a  beautiful  June 
day,  a  warm,  gentle,  south  wind  blowing, 
and  the  sun  radiant  and  shining  when  Skipper 
Davis  rilled  away  bound  for  Castine.  The 
way  led  through  a  labyrinthal  passage  leaving 
islands  on  either  side,  mostly  covered  with 
evergreen  trees  of  a  primitive  growth  with 


36       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

beautiful  beaches,  diversified  with  ledges 
and  boulders.  The  scenery  was  fascinating 
and  delightful. 

David  looking  on  these  sylvan  islands  for 
the  first  time  conceived  the  idea  of  making 
one  his  home.  Skipper  Davis  arrived  at 
Castine  that  evening,  where  he  found  old 
acquaintances  in  abundance.  There  were 
twenty  or  more  fishermen  fitting  out  lor  the 
banks,  including  a  full  rigged  ship  discharg- 
ing a  cargo  of  salt — Castine  being  at  that 
time  the  largest  port  in  eastern  Maine  for  fish- 
ermen's outfits.  Flocking  around  Skipper 
Davis  were  the  fishermen  listening  to  his 
familiar  talk  or  conversation  and  enjoying  his 
social  company,  they  regarding  him  as  the 
Patriarch  of  the  fishing  fleet  of  Maine.  There 
is  a  genial  and  social  friendship  existing 
among  fishermen.  They  sympathize  with 
one  another  in  misfortune  and  rejoice  with 
each  other  in  prosperity.  A  more  free- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON'.        39 

hearted  people  do  not  exist  than  the  fisher- 
men on  the  coast  of  Maine. 

The  next  day  Skipper  Davis  took  on  board 
the  salt  and  stores,  and  sailed  for  the  banks 
early  the  next  morning,  with  several  fisher- 
men in  company.  Before  losing  sight  of  Mt. 
Desert  he  had  also  lost  sight  of  the  rest  of 
the  fishermen,  as  Skipper  Davis  always  sailed 
by  his  own  compass. 

On  the  third  day  after  leaving  Castine  the 
Skipper  got  soundings  on  Brown's  bank. 
Soon  after  sounding  he  sighted  a  fisherman  at 
anchor.  lie  ran  down  and  spoke  him  when 
the  following  soliloquy  was  heard: 

"  Boat  ahoy!" 

"Halloo!" 

"  Getting  any  nsh  ?  " 

''Yes,  walloping  cod  for  hauling!  " 

Skipper  Davis  giving  him  a  berth,  let  go 
the  anchor,  brought  her  up  with  fifty  fathoms 
in  the  hawse,  took  in  the  foresail,  and  balance 


40       THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

reefed  the  mainsail.  Everything  being  in  read- 
iness all  hands  were  soon  employed  a-fishing. 

David  was  seasick,  but  got  his  line  over- 
board with  the  rest  and  soon  caught  his  first 
fish.  The  excitement  of  hauling  fish,  not- 
withstanding his  seasickness,  exhilarated  him. 
David  asked  Capt.  Ben,  if  he  did  not  call  it 
rough.  fr  Rough !  "  exclaimed  Capt.  Ben,  "  It 
is  as  smooth  as  a  cat's  back.  Rough!  When 
I  was  only  ten  years  old  I  went  to  the  western 
banks  with  Skipper  Thompson.  It  was  so  rough 
on  the  banks  that  skipper  Tom  nailed  my  coat 
tails  to  the  deck  and  made  me  eat  out  of  my  hat." 

It  took  nearly  four  weeks  to  wet  the  salt. 
It  was  the  middle  of  July  when  the  Skipper 
gave  orders  to  heave  ahea^,  which  was  re- 
ceived with  a  hearty  welcome.  Then  off  for 
home  with  a  hard  full. 

"  From  gray  sea  fog,  from  icy  drift, 
From  peril  and  from  pain, 
The  home-bound  fisher  greets  thy  lights, 
O  hundred  harbored  Maine  !  "  U'hillicr. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       4! 

After  a  short  and  pleasant  passage,  with 
ensign  flying  they  rounded  to  and  once  more 
came  ashore  off  Skipper  Davis'  cottage,  when 
they  received  the  greetings  of  friends  and 
neighbors.  They  expressed  themselves  in 
the  dialect  of  those  times  with  "  How  fares 
ye?  Welcome  home!  Fish  or  no  fish?  Wel- 
come home  Skipper  Davis!" 

Jack  and  David  hauled  the  boat  into  the 
wharf  to  prepare  or  make  ready  to  "  wash  out  " 
(the  term  invariably  used  by  fishermen  when 
discharging  fish).  The  next  three  days  Skip- 
per Davis  and  his  crew  were  employed  dis- 
charging and  getting  ready  to  sail  again  for 
the  banks.  The  quicker  they  could  get  away 
the  better,  as  by  this  means  they  hoped  to  get 
a  fare  of  fish  before  the  equinoxial  gales  in 
September. 

The  September  gale  which  often  happens 
about  the  time  the  sun  crosses  the  equator  is 
the  dread  and  fear  of  all  bank  fishermen. 


42       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

The  statistics,  or  collection  of  fa6ts,  show 
that  the  September  gales  have  made  desolate 
many  a  hearth  in  the  cottage  homes  of  the 
New  England  fishermen. 

Skipper  Davis,  like  his  boat,  was  growing 
old.  He  dreaded  to  go  this  cruise,  but  stern 
necessity,  including  want,  need  and  poverty 
compelled  him.  His  irregular  and  intemper- 
ate life  had  been  wasteful  and  extravagant. 
He  now  bitterly  repented  the  follies  of  his 
past  life — but  now  too  late.  With  his  best 
foot  forward,  and  hard  on  to  seventy  years  of 
age,  he  once  more  goes  on  board  for  Castine. 
After  getting  his  supply  of  salt  and  stores, 
then  off  and  away  for  the  banks. 

Arriving  on  the  banks  the  first  of  August, 
there  seemed  to  be  a  pleasing  prospe6t  of  fill- 
ing up  by  the  first  of  September.  In  the 
third  week  in  August  he  had  wet  more  than 
three  quarters  of  the  salt,  when  it  began  to 
thicken  up.  The  clouds  looked  heavy  with  a 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       43 

leaden  hue,  and  the  air  was  thick  and  hazy. 
Skipper  Davis'  countenance  showed  anxiety. 

""What  do  you  think  of  the  weather,  Capt. 
Ben?"  asked  the  Skipper.  "I  think  it  is 
going  to  be  a  snorter,"  replied  Capt.  Ben. 

There  was  but  little  wind,  but  a  heavy  sea 
was  rolling  in  from  the  southeast.  "  Heave 
ahead  my  hearties,  and  sight  the  anchor,"  were 
the  orders  of  Skipper  Davis.  Sighting  the 
anchor  to  be  sure  it  was  clear,  they  then  let  it 
go  again  and  paid  out  a  hundred  fathoms 
of  hawser,  put  everything  below  that  was 
movable,  put  the  tarpauling  on  the  hatches, 
and  battered  them  down.  The  foresail  was 
unbent  and  put  below,  the  mainsail  was  furled 
and  a  storm  trysail  set  for  a  riding  sail. 

When  they  had  made  all  secure,  the  gale 
came  on  gradually,  each  puff  stronger  than 
the  preceding  one.  At  sundown  the  gale 
was  increasing.  They  shut  the  cuddy  as  tight 
as  possible.  The  sea  piled  on  the  decks  until 


44       THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

they  could  hold  no  more.  Skipper  Davis' 
greatest  anxiety  was  that  the  boat  would 
spring  aleak,  but  if  she  kept  tight  she  would 
weather  out  the  gale.  It  is  hard  to  imagine 
how  the  men  felt  that  night  shut  up  in  the 
cuddy  of  the  boat,  with  the  chances  more 
than  equal  for  them  never  to  see  another  sun- 
rise. 

The  summer  gales  are  short,  and  the  next 
forenoon  at  ten  o'clock  the  sun  was  out  and 
shining  brightly.  After  dinner  all  hands  were 
fishing  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

It  was  a  joyful  day  on  board  the  Chebacco 
boat  when  the  salt  was  used  up.  Even  Capt. 
Ben  in  spite  of  his  age  was  manifesting  hilar- 
ity by  dancing  a  double  shuffle  on  deck. 
Skipper  Davis  brought  up  the  jug  of  New 
England  rum  and  put  it  on  the  binnacle  and 
said,  "  Drink  hearty,  boys,  and  give  the  old 
boat  a  good  name." 

Each  one  stepped  up  to  drink  according  to 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       45 

his  seniority,  Capt.  Ben  leading  the  van. 
When  he  took  the  jug  he  proposed  this  senti- 
ment: rf  Here's  to  the  ship  that  goes — the 
wind  that  blows — and  the  lass  that  loves  a 
sailor." 

When  all  hands  had  taken  a  pull  at  the  jug 
except  David,  Capt.  Ben  said  to  David,  r  Don't 
you  never  touch  it,  my  lad.  If  it  had  not 
been  for  that  jug,  I  would  have  walked  the 
quarter  deck  of  a  seventy-four  gun  ship,  with 
more  brass  buttons  on  my  coat  than  there  are 
points  of  the  compass.  If  you  think  this  yarn 
is  spun  of  wool  you  ask  Skipper  Davis  or 
Commodore  Tucker." 

It  was  pleasant  weather  and  with  a  fair 
wind  they  soon  arrived  home  from  the  banks. 
After  washing  out,  it  was  necessary  to  haul 
the  boat  ashore  to  scrape  the  barnacles  off 
her  bottom,  preparatory  to  shore  fishing. 
When  shore  fishing  they  were  devoid  of  that 
uneasy  or  painful  apprehension  of  danger, 


46       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

because  they  were  not  exposed  to  the  hazard 
and  the  peril  of  the  banks,  for  the  reason 
that  they  could  make  a  harbor  in  heavy 
weather. 

Skipper  Davis  was  a  pilot  and  well  ac- 
quainted with  all  the  harbors  in  eastern  Maine. 
When  anchored  on  the  fishing  ground  and 
their  labor  in  getting  fish  crowned  with  suc- 
cess, they  would  be  loth  to  leave  the  ground, 
and  hold  on  as  long  as  possible.  In  heavy 
weather,  when  it  came  on  too  tough  under 
reefed  sails  they  would  make  a  harbor. 

At  such  times  Skipper  Davis  would  give 
the  old  Chebacco  boat  hearty  victuals,  with 
the  laconic  phrase  of  "Boys,  she  is  all  white 
oak."  It  was  blue  times  indeed  when  the  old 
boat  could  not  make  a  harbor  under  double 
reefed  sails. 

Skipper  Davis  when  he  made  a  harbor 
made  a  good  one.  When  they  anchored  under 
the  lee  of  one  of  the  islands  that  form  the 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.       49 

harbors  of  the  Maine  coast,  where  their  boat 
lay  snug  and  close,  no  matter  how  hard  the 
storm  raged,  it  brought  no  care  to  them  as 
they  were  completely  sheltered.  They  could 
sympathize  with  the  old  deacon  at  the  village 
prayer  meeting  when  he  exclaimed,  f<r  Brothers 
and  sisters,  I  feel  it  is  good  for  me  to  be  here." 

In  the  cosy  cuddy  of  the  boat  with  a  good 
fire  in  the  fire-place,  the  Skipper  would  mount 
his  hobby  horse  telling  the  biographical  inci- 
dents of  the  Commodore  with  variations, 
followed  by  Capt.  Ben,  who  spun  yarns  that 
were  an  improvement  on  Sinbad  or  the  flying 
Dutchman. 

It  was  getting  late  in  November  and  the 
weather  was  showery,  when  by  mutual  con- 
sent they  went  home  and  hauled  up  the  boat 
in  her  winter  quarters.  The  season  had  been 
n  prosperous  one.  After  the  fish  had  been 
sold  and  a  settlement  made  David's  share  was 
more  than  a  hundred  dollars.  He  was  going 


^O       THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

to  live  with  the  Skipper,  go  to  school  and  care 
for  the  old  folks. 

Skipper  Davis  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful fishermen  in  Maine.  He  and  his  boat 
would  make  from  eight  to  ten  hundred  dollars 
a  year,  but  he  had  no  aptitude  for  business. 
He  had  more  generosity  than  wisdom.  Fie 
would  live  extravagantly  while  his  money 
lasted  and  when  it  was  gone,  live  extravagantly 
on  credit.  Sharpers  cheated  him,  and  now 
he  was  afflicted  with  rheumatism  and  old  age. 
His  boat  like  the  Skipper  had  seen  her  best 
days  and  the  cottage  had  become  dilapidated, 
but  in  spite  of  all  he  was  cheerful,  consoling 
himself  with  the  thought  that  there  was  an 
even  chance  for  something  to  turn  in  his  favor, 
but  he  did  not  know  what. 

Skipper  Davis  was  not  an  exception  to 
mariners  in  general.  They  made  money  and 
spent  it.  If  by  some  chance  they  escape  the 
perils  of  their  hazardous  life  and  live  to  old 


THE    ROMANTIC     STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       51 

age,  not  one  in  twenty  has  a  competency. 
Then  they  learn  that  charity  begins  and  ends 
at  home. 

Before  David  could  go  to  school  one  of  the 
first  things  to  be  done  was  to  get  winter 
clothes  for  him,  so  a  woman  tailor  was 
employed  to  come  to  the  house  to  make  him 
a  winter  suit  to  wear  to  school.  When  buy- 
ing the  cloth,  Aunt  Nancy,  the  woman  tailor 
and  even  the  Skipper  took  counsel  together 
on  the  merits  of  the  cloth.  The  woman 
gray,  the  Skipper  blue,  and  it  was  finally 
settled  by  arbitration,  David  himself  being 
umpire. 

In  due  time  the  clothes  were  ready  and  the 
following  Monday  Aunt  Nancy  had  him  ready 
for  school,  but  for  some  cause  he  looked  awk- 
ward. His  arm  were  too  long,  and  he  had 
his  suspenders  too  tight,  which  made  his 
trousers  tod  short;  his  head  was  on  one  side, 
his  sandv  hair  was  thick  and  was  cut  round  in 


=J2       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

a  circle  showing  less  than  two  inches  of  his 
forehead.  Aunt  Nancy  tried  her  best  to  get 
him  in  shape,  but  had  to  give  it  up  as  hope- 
less, soliloquizing,  ""There,  there,  well,  I  can't 
help  it,  he  is  the  best  boy  that  ever  lived." 

David  with  Aunt  Nancy's  satchel  contain- 
ing his  books  and  dinner  set  out  for  school. 
If  perseverance  had  not  been  a  leading  trait 
in  his  character,  he  would  have  abandoned 
the  idea  of  school  because  of  his  bashfulness. 
He  did  not  mind  the  boys  so  much,  but  the 
girls  were  a  sore  trouble  to  him.  If  one  of 
them  spoke  to  him,  he  would  blush  so  that 
the  freckles  on  his  face  would  turn  red. 

David  was  attentive  and  studious  at  school, 
and  notwithstanding  his  rustic  manners,  he 
had  the  respect  of  the  teacher. 

Among  the  scholars  there  was  a  boy  older 
than  David  that  was  droll  and  a  mimic.  He 
made  sport  of  David,  with  low  jests,  and  tried 
to  make  him  appear  ridiculous.  David  for  a 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        53 

time  took  no  notice,  but  after  awhile  forbear- 
ance ceased  to  be  a  virtue.  David's  Scotch- 
Irish  temper  got  the  advantage  of  him,  when 
he  took  the  droll  by  the  shoulders  and  said, 
"  I  have  a  good  mind  to  shake  you!  "  making 
good  his  threat  until  he  shook  the  breath  out 
of  him,  then  said  to  him,  rf  If  you  do  not  stop 
it,  I  will  shake  you  again." 

David  had  a  natural  aptitude  to  conform  to 
the  situation  in  which  he  was  placed  and  do 
what  was  necessary  without  being  told;  mak- 
ing the  skipper  and  his  wife  comfortable, 
which  was  a  mutual  pleasure  to  the  old  folks 
and  to  David. 


CHAPTER    V. 

IT  was  a  hot  campaign  in  1828  when  Jack- 
son and  Adams  were  the  candidates  for 
the  Presidency  of  the  United  States.  The 
political  parties  manifested  hard  feeling 
against  one  another,  both  north  and  south. 
The  Commodore  and  the  Skipper  did  not 
agree  in  their  political  opinions  and  many 
was  the  hard  fought  combat  they  had  together. 
The  Commodore  would  stand  by  his  guns, 
swearing  like  a  pirate,  converting  the  Skipper 
and  it  generally  took  an  hour  or  more  to 
make  the  Skipper  haul  down  his  colors.  But 
the  conversion  was  not  of  long  continuance. 
The  next  time  they  came  together,  the  Skip- 
per would  hurrah  for  Jackson,  when  the  Com- 
modore would  have  to  convert  him  over  again. 
The  Commodore  was  victorious,  because 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       55 

every  vote  in  the  town  was  for  the  Adams' 
ticket.  When  the  news  was  received  of 
Jackson's  election,  the  Skipper  with  manifes- 
tations of  patriotic  joy,  shouted,  "  Hurrah  for 

Jackson."  The  Commodore  said,  "D d 

him,  he  wasn't  half  converted." 

The  winter  wore  away.  David  was  a 
greater  favorite  than  ever  with  the  Skipper 
and  Aunt  Nancy,  humoring  the  Skipper  in 
his  garrulity  and  sympathizing  with  him  when 
he  had  an  attack  of  rheumatism,  not  by 
loquacity  but  actions,  and  he  was  truly  a  help 
to  them  in  their  old  age. 

The  vernal  season,  spring,  had  come,  the 
time  to  start  the  old  chebacco  boat.  A  con- 
sultation was  held  between  the  Skipper,  Capt. 
t  Ben  and  Jack  considering  what  was  best; 
whether  to  fit  the  boat  for  the  banks  or  have 
her  go  shore  fishing.  It  would  involve  con- 
siderable expense  to  fit  her  away.  She  would 
have  to  be  recalked  and  have  a  new  mainsail. 


56       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

Talking  the  matter  over  for  and  against,  they 
decided  to  send  her  one  trip  to  the  banks  and 
the  rest  of  the  season  shore  fishing. 

It  had  been  the  practice  for  years  to  send 
the  boat  up  the  Kennebec  river  before  going 
to  the  banks,  to  get  the  necessary  outfits  of  all 
that  was  needful,  excepting  salt  and  bait, 
which  were  got  at  Castine. 

After  calking  and  painting  the  boat,  the 
Skipper,  Jack  and  David  in  the  old  boat, 
sailed  for  the  Kennebec.  The  neighbors  all 
had  well  founded  confidence  in  Skipper  Davis 
and  sent  by  him  what  they  had  to  sell  or  ex- 
change for  West  India  goods.  He  could 
always  do  better  for  them  than  they  could  for 
themselves,  owing  to  a  business  firm  that  the 
Skipper  had  done  business  with  many  years, 
who  looked  after  him  and  his  interest. 

Arriving  at  the  river  town,  David  had  an 
incessant  craving  to  go  home  to  see  his 
mother.  Getting  the  consent  of  the  Skipper 


THE    ROMANTIC    STOKY     OK     DAVID    ROBERTSON.        ^7 

early  next  morning,  he  set  out  on  his  journey, 
and  was  once  more  on  the  river  road,  this 
time  on  the  right  road  and  going  the  right 
way. 

When  he  got  to  the  clearing  where  the 
woman  had  given  him  the  bread  and  cheese, 
he  went  to  the  door  and  rapped,  and  the  iden- 
tical woman  came  to  the  door.  She  knew 
him  and  invited  him  in.  David  said,  "I  came 
to  pay  you  for  the  bread  and  cheese."  He 
laid  down  a  Spanish  milled  dollar  against  her 
protest,  said  good  by  and  was  off.  She  said 
to  herself,  "  Cast  thy  bread  on  the  waters 
for  thou  shalt  find  it  after  many  days." 

David  trudged  on  his  journey,  arriving  at  his 
old  home  about  two  o'clock.  He  saw  his  father 
and  brothers  in  the  field  plowing.  Everything 
looked  the  same,  excepting  the  new  house 
which  was  up,  boarded  and  shingled.  The 
door  to  the  log  house  was  open,  and  when  he 
stepped  on  the  threshold  his  mother  was 


58       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

standing  back  to  the  door,  but  when  she  heard 
his  step  she  knew  it  was  David.  With 
ecstasy  of  joy,  overflowing  with  happiness, 
she  put  both  her  arms  round  his  neck  with  the 
exclamation,  ""  O  David!"  If  anything  is 
pure  it  is  the  unchangeable  love  of  a  mother 
to  her  son. 

After  telling  his  mother  his  adventures, 
without  going  into  details,  he  asked  about  his 
father,  and  taking  from  his  pocket  the  money 
said,  "  Give  this  to  father,  it  will  help  him 
lo  complete  the  house."  David  respected  his 
father,  but  the  memory  of  scenes  that  were 
past  he  could  forgive,  but  not  forget.  Then 
with  a  simple  good  by  and  God  bless  you,  he 
was  gone. 

When  Mr.  Robertson  came  home,  he  found 
Mrs.  Robertson  sitting  in  her  rocking  chair, 
the  baby  in  her  lap  and  sobbing  convulsively. 
Mr.  Robertson  said,  "  Why,  what  is  the  matter, 
mother?"  She  sobbed  with  audible  grief, 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       59 

f(>  David  has  been  home."  Mr.  Robertson's 
face  betrayed  emotion  when  he  heard  this, 
and  he  gave  utterance  to  the  single  word, 
ff  David  ? "  He  had  a  heartfelt  grief  that  the 
pen  is  inadequate  to  describe.  The  coals  of 
fire  that  were  heaped  on  his  head  were  red 
hot.  To  see  him  suffering  with  sorrowful 
pangs  and  heartaches,  a  person  must  have 
been  stone-hearted  not  to  have  pitied  him. 

It  was  midnight  when  David  got  back  to 
the  boat.  The  next  day  Jack  and  David  took 
in  the  freight  and  stores.  When  the  freight 
was  all  aboard  it  was  night  and  Jack  got  sup- 
per. When  David  went  to  hunt  up  the  Skip- 
per he  found  him  with  half  a  dozen  old 
codgers  drinking  at  the  Skipper's  expense,  to 
the  health  of  Commodore  Tucker  and  Andrew 
Jackson,  but  after  some  persuasion  David  got 
him  to  go  with  him  on  board.  The  Skipper 
made  a  crooked  wake.  David  took  him  by 
the  arm  and  he  got  along  better.  It  took 


60       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

both  Jack  and  David  to  get  him  on  board  and 
into  his  berth,  when  no  more  was  heard  from 
him  until  next  morning. 

When  they  started  for  home,  on  the  way 
down  river  Skipper  Davis  had  an  attack  of 
rheumatism  and  he  claimed  Medford  rum  and 
sulphur  would  cure  the  disease  if  taken  often. 
Its  effect  upon  him  was  to  make  him  dozy, 
when  he  turned  in.  Jack  and  David  sailed 
the  boat  home.  After  discharging  the  freight, 
all  was  in  readiness  for  the  trip  to  Castine  ex- 
cepting Skipper  Davis,  whose  rheumatism 
was  a  sore  trouble  to  him.  He  prescribed 
for  himself  the  rum  and  sulphur  which 
affected  his  head,  while  the  rheumatism 
affected  his  joints  and  limbs.  Very  few 
physicians,  if  any,  could  diagnose  his  disease 
or  distinguish  which  was  the  worse — the 
disease  or  the  remedy. 

After  waiting  ten  days  for  Skipper  Davis 
to  get  better,  without  improvement,  he  had  to 


SKIPPER  DAVIS'  CHEBACCO  HOAT, 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       6 1 

get  Capt.  Ben  to  take  charge  of  the  boat  to 
go  to  the  banks,  not  without  some  forebod- 
ings, but  necessity  has  no  choice.  Capt.  Ben 
sailed  for  Castine  to  get  his  salt  and  bait,  also 
a  new  cable  and  then  sailed  for  Brown's 
banks.* 

Capt.  Ben  now  having  charge,  he  left  off 
his  trifling  and  frivolous  manner.  The  crew 
missed  Skipper  Davis  and  also  Capt.  Ben's 
merriment.  Coming  events  cast  their  shad- 
ows. It  was  a  misty  and  lowery  day  when 
Captain  Ben  sailed  for  the  banks,  with  the 
wind  ahead,  followed  by  calms  and  variables 
with  plenty  of  rain.  It  was  eighf  days  after 
leaving  Castine  before  Capt.  Ben  got  sound- 
ings on  Brown's  banks. 

According  to  the  boat  log  which  noted 
events  as  well  as  courses,  distances,  latitude, 
wind  and  departure,  Capt.  Ben  arrived  on  the 

*This    bank    is    call  Brown's  bank  by  all  fishermen,  but  the  true 
name  is  Blonde  bank. 


62       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

banks  two  days  before  Skipper  Davis  sailed 
for    home    with    a    full  fare  of  fish  the  year 
before.     The  spring  school  of  fish  had  gone 
from  the  banks  when  Capt.  Ben  arrived  this 
time.     They  tried  hard   for  fish  but  without 
success,  shifting  berths  every  day,  trying  all 
over  the  banks,  sometimes  in  sight  of  Cape 
Sable  and  then  shifting  to  the  extreme  edge  in 
deep  water.     They  found  plenty  of  dog  fish, 
the  curse  of  all  fishermen.       Capt.  Ben  said 
they  never  made  their  appearance  on  the  banks 
before    until    July.      They   spent  a  fortnight 
in  vain,  not  averaging  a  quintal  of  fish  a  day. 
On   the   following   Sunday,  Capt.    Ben  got 
an  observation  of  the  sun,  by  this  means  get- 
ting  the    true    time    and    latitude,    which    he 
found   was    43    degrees,    10    minutes,  saying, 
ffLa  Have  is  due  east  sixty  miles."    The  wind 
was  southwest.     By  mutual  consent  they  got 
under  way  and  were  off  for  La  Have  bank. 
At  ten  o'clock  the  same  night  they  got  sound- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       63 

ings  on  the  bank  in  fifty  fathoms,  this  being 
the  shoalest  water  on  La  Have  bank.  They 
anchored  with  seventy-five  fathoms  of  cable 
and  turned  in  excepting  the  watch. 

They  spent  a  week  on  the  bank  without 
getting  any  fish.  Capt.  Ben  was  discouraged. 
A  gloom  and  sadness  were  manifest  among 
the  crew  of  the  old  chebacco  boat  that  had 
never  failed  before  to  bring  home  a  fare  of 
fish.  There  is  a  superstition  among  sailors 
and  fishermen;  they  firmly  believe  in  luck  and 
fate.  Capt.  Ben  said  "It  was  the  thirteenth 
day  of  July  when  .we  left  Castine,  and  it  was 
Friday  when  we  left  home,  but  boys  let  us 
stick  to  it  as  long  as  there  is  a  shot  in  the 
locker  or  Indian  meal  enoug  to  stir  up  a 
Johnny  cake." 

Northwest  from  La  Have  bank  thirty-five 
miles  lay  Roseway  bank.  Capt.  Ben  and  his 
crew  thought  it  was  best  to  try  there  before 
giving  up  and  once  more  try  fortune — luck  or 


64       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

chance  for  fish.  It  was  night  when  they  got 
under  way  for  Rose  way  bank.  Arriving  the 
next  morning  they  anchored  on  the  bank  in 
thirty  fathoms  of  water  before  their  line  got 
bottom.  They  got  cod  fish  and  a  hard  day's 
work  was  done  on  board  the  old  boat  that  day. 
They  hauled  fish  until  the  kits  or  checker 
board*  could  hold  no  more.  It  took  most  of 
the  night  to  dress  them  down. 

The  next  morning  there  was  a  heavy  sea, 
the  wind  southeast  and  fresh,  the  fish  biting 
sharp  with  the  sea  making  and  the  wind  in- 
creasing. Capt.  Ben  was  loth  to  stop  fishing, 
wishing  to  make  up  for  lost  time  and  now 
getting  large  cod  fish.  Thinking  the  wind 
was  nothing  but  a  summer  breeze  and  expe6t- 
ing  it  to  moderate,  they  kept  on  fishing  until 
the  decks  were  full  of  fish.  They  hardly 
realized  how  bad  it  was,  they  were  so  anxious 

*On  deck  of  a  fisherman  when  fishing,  the  deck  is  divided  in  checks 
by  plark>  made  and  fitted  for  the  purpose,  called  by  the  fishermen  the 
checker  board. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVTD    ROBERTSON.       65 

to  get  fish.  The  wind  was  blowing  a  brisk 
gale,  increasing  to  sudden  gusts,  assuming  the 
violence  of  a  hurricane.  The  sea  came 
aboard,  obliging  them  to  put  on  the  hatches 
and  make  them  secure.  Capt.  Ben  told  David 
and  the  crew  to  go  below  and  shut  the  com- 
panion slide  and  doors.  Capt.  Ben  and  Jack 
lashed  themselves  to  the  masts.  The  fish  had 
washed  overboard,  the  deck  was  full  to  the 
rails  of  water,  and  the  boat  rolling  and 
pitching  in  a  terrible  manner,  while  Jack  and 
Capt.  Ben  looked  on  with  dread  and  sorrow, 
watching  her  for  an  hour  or  more. 

At  length  Capt.  Ben  saw  a  big  sea  coming 
and  sung  out  to  Jack  to  hold  on.  He  got  the 
axe  and  sprang  for  the  jaws  of  the  fore  gaff 
and  none  too  soon,  for  the  old  boat  with  a 
plunge  went  out  of  sight.  When  she  came 
up  everything  was  gone  from  her  deck  includ- 
ing the  waist  boards  and  wherries*.  The  cable 

*A  light  boat  used  at  that  time. 


66       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

tier  that  was  on  deck  was  tailing  out  astern. 
There  had  been  a  strain  on  every  butt  and 
seam,  proving  that  the  craft  was  built  of  oak 
and  copper  fastened.  When  she  went  under 
she  shook  and  trembled  from  stem  to  stern. 

At  sea  there  are  invariably  three  heavy  seas 
following  in  succession  in  hard  gales  of  wind. 
With  the  experience  that  Capt.  Ben  had,  he 
knew  there  were  two  more  to  come  and  he 
did  not  believe  the  old  boat  could  stand  the 
pressure,  so  with  one  blow  he  cut  the  cable. 
When  the  boat  fell  off  the  trysail  now  got 
the  full  force  of  the  gale.  It  split  from  clue 
to  earing.  Capt.  Ben,  nimble  as  a  boy,  got 
aft  and  took  the  tiller,  keeping  her  before  the 
gale,  scudding  her  under  bare  poles.  It  was 
coming  on  night  and  the  old  boat  driving 
before  the  gale  at  a  fearful  rate.  The  binna- 
cle and  compass  were  gone  and  they  now  had 
no  means  of  knowing  the  exa6t  way  the  gale 
of  wind  was  blowing.  Capt.  Ben  judged  the 


C'HEliACCO  ISOAT  SCUDDING  OUT  A  I1AI.K. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       67 

gale  or  hurricane  to  be  east  southeast,  and 
Cape  Sable  was  bearing  west  northwest,  dis- 
tance thirty-five  miles,  when  he  cut  the  cable, 
making  proper  allowance  for  variation.  If 
the  gale  continued  four  hours  longer  and  his 
reckoning  was  right,  she  would  be  ashore  on 
Cape  Sable.  If  the  wind  veered  to  the  north 
she  would  scud  by  Cape  Sable  and  go  clear. 

It  was  six  o'clock  by  Capt.  Ben's  bull's  eye 
watch  when  he  cut  the  cable.  It  was  now  nine 
o'clock  and  before  ten  she  would  be  ashore 
or  go  by.  It  was  dark  as  pitch,  the  air  full  of 
water,  caused  by  the  hurricane  blowing  the 
foam  or  spray  off  the  seas.  Capt.  Ben  was 
powerless  but  thought  the  chance  about  equal 
for  her  to  scud  by  Cape  Sable.  Language  is 
inadequate  to  describe  the  feelings  of  the 
men,  with  alternate  hopes  and  fears.  Capt. 
Ben  said,  "My  reckoning  is  up  and  the  next 
ten  minutes  will  decide  our  fate." 

The    strain    now    brought    to    bear   on   the 


68       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBKRTSOX. 

minds  of  those  men  was  as  much  as  human 
nature  could  stand,  and  only  those  who  have 
been  in  a  similar  situation  can  fully  understand 
their  feelings — now  with  anxious  care  wait- 
ing for  uncertain  or  inevitable  fate  to  decide 
their  destiny,  when  an  unexpected  occurrence 
took  place.  Suddenly  and  only  for  a  minute 
it  was  stark  calm,  when  the  wind  with  an  im- 
petuous and  sudden  gust  was  blowing  from 
the  opposite  direction  with  equal  velocity,  the 
old  boat  scudding  now  for  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
with  sea  room  of  more  than  three  thousand 
miles. 

Free  now  from  imminent  danger,  with 
hopes  revived,  they  were  comparatively  cheer- 
ful. The  morning  light  was  hailed  with  joy, 
and  the  sun  rose  clear.  Capt.  Ben  still  at  the 
tiller,  lashed,  with  the  boat  scudding  ten  knots 
at  least,  the  tremendous  seas  washing  over 
her,  as  if  she  was  a  half  tide  ledge.  With 
all  their  misfortunes  they  had  the  satisfaction 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.       69 

and  consolation  that  the  weather  was  moder- 
ating, and  the  old  boat  was  tight.  Capt.  Ben 
said  she  was  scudding  about  sou'southeast, 
making  use  of  the  sun  for  his  compass.  The 
cook  of  the  boat  after  various  and  unsuccess- 
ful attempts  to  make  coffee  had  at  last  suc- 
ceeded, and  with  a  quart  pot  was  trying  to 
get  it  aft  to  Capt.  Ben,  and  by  dint  of  perse- 
vering, at  last  succeeded.  Like  ne6lar  to  the 
Gods,  were  victuals  and  drink  to  Capt.  Ben. 

It  had  now  moderated  so  much  that  they 
two-reefed  the  foresail,  and  let  her  come  to 
the  wind.  Capt.  Ben  got  the  latitude  at  noon, 
making  her  in  42  degrees,  20  minutes,  Cape 
Sable  bearing  north  by  west  seventy  miles. 
They  lay  by  until  past  three  o'clock,  then  set 
the  mainsail  double  reefed,  hauled  the  sheets 
Bat  aft  and  the  old  boat  was  off,  heading  for 
the  Maine  coast,  somewhere  between  Sacca- 
rap  and  Quoddy,  on  the  starboard*  tack  for 

*The  word  larboard  is  obsolete,  port  being  substituted. 


70       THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

fifteen  hours.  It  was  still  blowing  hard,  the 
boat  smothering  to  it  full  and  by  under  double 
reefs,  Capt.  Ben  judging  by  the  north  star, 
that  the  wind  was  about  north. 

The  next  morning  the  wind  westerned,  when 
they  tacked  to  the  eastward.  At  noon  the 
latitude  was  43  degrees,  40  minutes,  Mt. 
Desert  rock  bearing  nor'west  by  west  thirty- 
five  miles  by  estimation,  the  wind  moderating, 
and  the  sea  going  down.  The  wind  backened 
to  the  northward,  blowing  a  whole-sail  breeze 
with  starboard  tacks  aboard. 

The  old  boat  was  now  doing  her  best  for 
Pemaquid,  and  before  daybreak  the  next 
morning  they  made  the  light  on  Monhegan, 
proving  that  the  boat  had  outrun  Capt.  Ben's 
reckoning.  He  could  almost  instinctively  find 
his  way  home  the  darkest  night  that  ever  was, 
having  fished  the  ground  over  for  years. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  Capt.  Ben  had 
formed  an  attachment  for  the  boat.  She  had 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       71 

carried  him  safely  through  so  many  dangers, 
seen  and  unseen,  and  had  been  his  home 
spring,  summer  and  fall  for  ten  years.  By 
her  he  had  gained  his  sustenance,  now  coming 
home  without  a  fare  of  fish  for  the  first  time. 
The  old  boat  had  brought  her  wings,  but  had 
lost  her  tail  feathers. 

The  expense  of  fitting  out  the  boat  was 
more  than  it  ever  had  been  before,  and  the 
prospe6t  to  go  shore  fishing  to  get  money 
enough  to  pay  the  bank  outfits,  besides  having 
to  repair  the  boat's  damages  was  anything  but 
pleasing.  Capt.  Ben  had  done  the  best  and 
all  that  he  could,  but  would  neither  get  cen- 
sure or  praise. 

At  noon  that  day,  they  were  in  sight  of 
Pemaquid,  the  dearest  spot  on  earth  to  Capt. 
Ben.  In  years  gone  by  whenever  they  re- 
turned from  fishing,  the  sight  of  Pemaquid 
was  hailed  with  gladness  and  gaiety,  with  en- 
sign flying  and  boat  "  scuppers  to  "  with  fish. 


72        THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSOX. 

Now  with  grief  and  sadness  they  came  in 
sight  of  home,  the  old  boat  almost  a  wreck, 
without  fish.  Was  it  luck  or  destiny?  It 
seemed  to  Capt.  Ben  while  meditating  de- 
je6tedly  that  it  was  the  decree  of  fate  that  he 
would  have  to  go  with  Skipper  Davis  hand 
in  hand,  over  the  hill  to  the  poor  house  the 
coming  winter. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

SKIPPER  Davis  with  anxious  care  and 
uneasiness  had  been  waiting  for  the 
boat's  return  a  fortnight;  every  day  found  him 
down  on  Pemaquid  Point  with  a  spyglass  on 
the  lookout.  He  could  tell  her  as  far  as  his 
vision  extended,  among  a  hundred.  When  at 
last  he  recognized  her,  it  animated  him  so  for 
the  time  being  he  forgot  his  rheumatism,  and 
swung  his  tarpaulin  hat,  with  a  cry  of  exul- 
tation, "  Hurrah  for  old  Hickory."  Watching 
the  boat  with  close  attention  as  she  ap- 
proached, when  he  saw  her  waist  and  boats 
were  gone,  with  no  ensign  flying,  it  told  him 
the  whole  story.  She  was  now  near  enough 
for  him  to  distinguish  the  men  on  board;  with 
the  glass  he  espied  David  and  soliloquized, 
'  Thank  God,  David  is  alive;  he  is  the  best 


74       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

boy  that  ever  gutted  a  fish."  He  then  trudged 
sadly  home  speculating  on  the  gloomy  pros- 
pects. The  old  boat  got  to  her  anchorage  off 
Skipper  Davis'  cottage  before  night,  and  let 
go  her  sheet  anchor  (the  fishing  anchor  was 
on  Roseway  bank ) . 

"When  Capt.  Ben  went  ashore,  he  was  met 
by  Skipper  Davis,  who  reached  out  his  hand 
and  took  Capt.  Ben's,  and  with  a  hearty  shake 
said :  "  How  fares  ye  ?  Welcome  home,  Capt. 
Ben,  don't  look  so  down-hearted,  and  cheer 
up.  As  long  as  I  can  catch  a  fish  I  will 
divide  with  you,  and  cut  him  fore  and  aft,  not 
athwart  ships  giving  you  the  tail." 

The  old  hero  of  the  Revolution,  Tucker, 
was  present  at  the  meeting  of  Capt.  Ben  and 
Skipper  Davis;  the  Commodore  was  solving 
a  mathematical  problem,  mentally  dividing 
his  meagre  pension  of  twenty  dollars  a  month 
into  three  parts  and  using  somewhat  irrever- 
ent language,  when  he  accosted  the  Skipper, 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        75 

'  You  and  Ben  catch  the  fish,  and  I  will  raise 
the  potatoes  and  divide  the  pension  and  we 
will  never  surrender  or  haul  down  the  flag  so 
long  as  we  can  keep  afloat." 

Skipper  Davis,  Capt.  Ben  and  Jack  con- 
sulted together  contriving  the  ways  and  means 
to  get  what  was  necessary  for  the  boat  before 
she  could  go  shore  fishing,  taking  an  inventory 
and  then  computing  the  necessary  expense. 
The  consultation  made  them  hesitate.  The 
summary  or  brief  computation  as  follows:  The 
heavy  bill  up  the  Kennebec  for  provision,  the 
salt,  bait,  cable  and  mainsail  at  Castine,  the 
calking  and  painting  at  home;  and  what 
they  would  have  to  obtain,  viz.:  fishing  cable, 
anchor,  boats,  compass,  binnacle  and  fishing 
gear,  besides  a  carpenters  bill  for  putting  on 
a  waist  and  making  kits. 

It  seemed  almost  against  fate  to  start  the 
old  boat  under  the  circumstances,  when  the 
best  of  the  fishing  season  was  gone.  They 


76       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

thought  they  could  do  nothing  better  and 
went  on  board  the  next  day  for  Castine,  con- 
cluding to  look  for  their  money  where  they 
lost  it  with  a  presentiment  in  their  minds  of 
calamity  or  misfortune. 

When  they  arrived  at  Castine,  Skipper 
Davis  with  his  threadbare  clothes  well  patched 
by  Aunt  Nancy,  with  a  careworn  counte- 
nance went  to  the  outfit  merchant  to  furnish 
him  what  was  needed  for  the  boat.  The 
merchant  did  not  want  to  increase  his  bill 
without  security  (he  fully  understood  the 
Skipper's  situation),  which  obliged  Skipper 
Davis  to  give  a  bottomry  bond  of  the  boat, 
making  the  old  adage  true,  that  has  been 
handed  down  from  antiquity  that  "  misfortune 
never  comes  alone."  Skipper  Davis  firmly 
believed  in  luck,  it  had  been  a  part  of  his 
nature  at  all  times,  and  in  all  circumstances, 
but  was  now  to  learn  that  a  fish  does  not 
always  belong  to  the  man  that  catches  him. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.        77 

With  hurry  and  disorder,  without  stopping  to 
consider,  with  his  mind  occupied  wholly 
with  the  one  idea  of  getting  fish  to  relieve 
him  from  his  trouble,  not  using  good  judg- 
ment, getting  more  or  less  than  was  necessary 
for  the  boat,  the  once  jolly  Skipper  was  now 
fretful  and  peevish  (except  when  under  the 
influence  of  a  stimulant)  and  became  capri- 
cious. 

There  was  not  a  chance  in  ten  for  them  to 
get  fish  enough  in  two  months,  to  pay  the 
Castine  bills  when  the  bottomery  bond  expired. 
The  outlook  was  discouraging,  but  the  Skip- 
per mindful  of  his  great  successes  in  years 
that  were  gone  could  not,  or  would  not  be- 
lieve that  luck,  fate  or  chance,  that  had 
always  been  in  his  favor,  would  forsake  him 
now.  With  his  visionary  and  whimsical 
scheme  in  his  head  when  he  arrived  on  the 
fishing  ground,  for  the  next  four  weeks  they 
tried  hard  for  fish  between  Grand  Manan  and 


78       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

Monhegan,  making  the  mistake  of  changing 
the  fishing  ground  too  often. 

The  Skipper  having  more  anxiety  than 
patience  at  last  became  discouraged  and  gave 
up  the  fight.  With  too  much  care,  he  aged 
rapidly  under  his  misfortunes,  and  looked  ten 
years  older  than  when  he  left  Pemaquid. 
Wearied  in  body  and  mind  Skipper  Davis  and 
his  crew  were  downcast  and  dejected. 

After  fishing  the  month  of  September  with 
poor  success,  their  provisions  were  most  gone. 
They  abandoned  the  undertaking  and  returned 
to  Castine.  The  merchant  at  Castine  was  of 
the  old  school  and  a  gentleman.  It  was  de- 
nominated in  the  bottomry  bond  that  he  had 
of  Skipper  Davis,  that  in  case  of  failure  to 
pay  the  bond  at  the  expiration  of  the  time 
specified  he  was  to  deliver  the  boat  at 
Castine. 

Skipper  Davis  was  the  soul  of  honor  and 
under  no  circumstances  would  he  betray  his 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.        JC) 

trust  or  even  equivocate  to  save  the  boat.* 
On  his  arrival  at  Castine  the  Skipper  with  tot- 
tering steps  delivered  the  boat's  papers  to  the 
merchant,  who  handed  them  back,  saying,  "  I 
would  rather  lose  my  money  than  take  your 
boat.  You  may  take  the  boat  home,  when  I 
call  for  her  will  be  time  enough  to  deliver 
her." 

Skipper  Davis  and  his  crew  went  home  in 
the  old  boat.      The   Skipper's   ambition  was 

*Many  of  the  fishermen  of  those  times  were  noted  for  their  obser- 
vance of  the  truth.  When  the  treaty  was  concluded  between  the 
English  Dominion  of  Nova  Scotia  and  the  United  States,  the  agree- 
ment provided  that  the  fishermen  of  the  Independent  States  should 
take  no  fish  inside  of  three  miles  of  the  shores  of  Nova  Scotia.  The 
fishermen  to  get  fresh  bait  would  set  their  nets  inside  of  the  limits  to 
catch  herring  when  they  could  not  get  them  on  the  fishing  ground. 
The  English  cutter  or  Revenue  boat  would  often  speak  the  Yankee 
fishermen  and  inquire  where  they  got  their  bait.  If  they  replied  on 
the  ground,  no  more  notice  was  taken  of  the  matter.  The  cutter 
spoke  Capt.  Burgess  who  belonged  to  one  of  the  island  towns  in 
Penobscot  Bay,  hailing  him  with  the  formal  question,  "Where  did 
you  get  your  bait!"  Capt.  Burgess  was  loth  to  answer  and  would 
not  say  he  caught  them  on  the  ground.  He  was  taken  out  and  his 
vessel  towed  to  Halifax  or  some  other  Nova  Scotia  port,  his  vessel  and 
fish  confiscated,  then  left  to  get  home  the  best  he  could.  When  ques- 
tioned about  the  affair  his  answer  was,  "Do  you  think  I  would  lie  for 
an  old  vessel?" 


So      THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

gone  now;  worn  out  and  sick,  he  had  nothing 
to  look  forward  to  or  cheer  his  drooping 
spirits.  When  he  arrived  home,  he  was  too 
feeble  to  walk.  David  took  him  by  the  arm 
and  led  him  home.  His  curls  that  hung  down 
on  his  shoulders  had  turned  from  gray  to 
white.  Notwithstanding  his  venerable  ap- 
pearance, he  had  the  pleasing  look  of  child- 
hood, sitting  in  his  arm  chair  now  almost 
helpless.  He  would  at  times  hold  Aunt 
Nancy's  hand  in  deep  thought,  knowing  in  his 
heart  that  she  had  done  him  good,  not  evil,  all 
the  days  of  her  life,  living  with  him  as  con- 
sort in  unity  for  more  than  forty  years. 

It  was  Skipper  Davis'  last  sickness.  All 
that  a  kind  heart  and  hands  could  do  Aunt 
Nancy  did  for  him.  He  had  lived  the  age 
allotted  to  man,  when  the  summons  came. 
He  died  with  a  pleasant  smile  on  his  counte- 
nance, with  quiet  submission.  It  was  a  beau- 
tiful, still  autumn  day  when  friends  and 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       8 1 

neighbors  far  and  near  followed  the^remains 
of  Skipper  Davis  to  his  last  resting  place  in 
the  church-yard  burying  ground. 

There  is  something  grand  and  noble  in  the 
companionship  of  husband  and  wife,  who 
have  lived  together  many  years  in  harmony. 
Broken  hearted  now  was  Aunt  Nancy,  follow- 
ing skipper  Davis  to  the  grave,  her  tears  min- 
gling with  the  dust  of  the  road,  with  sad 
expressions  of  sorrow  from  the  cottage  to  the 
church-yard.  She  had  walked  with  him  down 
the  hard  path  of  life  for  forty  years,  and 
would  wait  patiently  for  the  time  when  she 
could  lie  side  by  side  with  him  in  the  burying 
ground. 

Capt.  Ben,  who  all  his  life  was  as  free  as 
water  with  his  money,  was  now  without  a 
dollar  or  a  home,  bowed  down  with  age,  and 
the  cold  icy  winter  near  at  hand.  He  had 
braved  the  dangers  of  the  sea  and  oceans  for 
sixty  years,  as  now,  without  an  enemy  or 


82       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

friend  in  the  wide  world,  he  went  over  the 
hill  to  be  supported  at  the  public  expense. 

A  sincere  affe6tion  Capt.  Ben  had  for  Skip- 
per Davis.  He  went  to  the  grave  and  looked 
at  Skipper  Davis  in  his  coffin  with  a  pang  of 
sorrow,  lingering  there  until  the  lid  was  closed 
that  fastened  Skipper  Davis  down  forever. 
With  honest  tears  on  his  weather-beaten 
cheeks  he  slowly  and  moodily  walked  away, 
wishing  himself  lying  beside  Skipper  Davis. 

The  situation  in  which  David  now  found 
himself,  with  nothing  to  his  credit  for  his 
summer  fishing,  left  on  his  own  resources 
with  Aunt  Nancy  in  the  dilapidated  cottage, 
with  the  icy  cold  winter  coming  on,  necessi- 
tated prompt  a6lion.  He  conceived  the  idea 
of  going  small  boat  fishing  with  Jack,  who 
made  his  home  in  the  cuddy  of  the  old  boat 
that  was  hauled  up  in  her  winter  quarters,  and 
would  probably  remain  there  until  next 
spring. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       83 

When  David  mentioned  to  Jack  his  idea  to 
go  small  boat  fishing,  and  asked  him  to  go 
with  him,  Jack,  although  an  honest  heart 
beat  under  his  blue  flannel  shirt,  had  not  the 
capacity  of  mind  to  manage  or  direct,  and 
was  submissive  to  David's  judgment,  whose 
intellect  was  far  above  Jack's.  Thus  with 
Jack's  practical  and  David's  theoretical  knowl- 
edge, they  were  well  adapted  to  go  fishing- 
together. 

During  the  months  of  October  and  Novem- 
ber David  and  Jack  went  small  boat  fishing 
every  day  when  it  was  possible  to  fish,  meet- 
ing with  success  beyond  their  expectations. 
They  were  indebted  to  Capt.  Ben  who  went 
with  them  in  pleasant  weather,  and  showed 
them  by  marks  and  ranges  the  best  fishing- 
grounds.  David  was  now  able  to  aid  and 
assist  Aunt  Nancy  and  keep  the  wolf  from 
the  door.  The  poverty  that  threatened  them 
the  coming  winter  had  disappeared. 


84        THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBETSOV. 

Aunt  Nancy  never  recovered  her  cheerful 
and  pleasant  manner,  doing  her  simple  house 
work  in  a  quiet  and  sedate  way,  showing 
plainly  her  deep  grief  and  sadness.  The  cold, 
chill  winds  of  December  had  come,  which 
compelled  David  and  Jack  to  stop  fishing. 

David's  eccentric  manner  at  times  had  a 
strange  effe6t  on  those  that  did  not  under- 
stand his  silent  or  taciturn  ways.  He  and 
Aunt  Nancy  might  be  seen  in  the  kitchen  of 
the  cottage  in  the  long  winter  evenings,  with 
Aunt  Nancy  sitting  in  her  rocking  chair 
thoughtful  and  meditative,  while  David,  who 
was  chary  of  his  thoughts  seldom  gave  them 
expression.  He  seemed  to  have  an  instinctive 
desire  to  do  for  Aunt  Nancy  what  was  essen- 
tial and  needful.  If  he  had  been  her  son  it 
appeared  to  her  that  she  could  not  have  loved 
him  more.  She  looked  on  him  as  sent  by 
Divine  Providence  to  comfort  her  in  her 
great  affliction. 


THE    ROMANTIC     STORY     OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       85 

In  the  sacred  scriptures  she  had  implicit 
faith,  and  was  often  thinking  of  a  sentence  in 
the  holy  writings  as  applied  to  her  own  situa- 
tion. "I  have  been  young,  and  now  am  old; 
yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor 
his  seed  begging  bread."  It  had  been  the 
habitual  practice  for  years  for  the  young  folks 
to  meet  at  Skipper  Davis'  cottage  on  winter 
evenings,  and  listen  to  the  jovial  skipper  or 
Capt.  Ben's  sea  stories  of  by-gone  days.  The 
once  cheerful  cottage  was  now  forsaken  by 
its  former  associates,  for  the  reason  that  Aunt 
Nancy  was  no  company  for  them  now.  Aunt 
Nancy  was  noted  for  her  social  and  agreeable 
ways  towards  the  young  people,  and  beloved 
by  them.  They  would  occasionally  make  her 
a  short  visit,  bringing  her  some  delicacy  or 
dainty  which  she  would  receive  with  grati- 
tude, manifested  by  a  pleasant  smile. 

She  knew  her  clays  were  numbered,  and 
would  be  glad  to  receive  the  welcome  mes- 


86       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

sage,  having  a  firm  belief  in  immortality. 
Her  disease  or  complaint  baffled  the  skill  of 
the  physicians,  their  drugs  and  blood  letting 
did  her  no  good.  She  had  given  up.  The 
sorrow  on  which  her  mind  was  continually 
dwelling,  with  a  strong  desire  to  die,  brought 
about  the  final  result.  The  body  or  system 
when  deprived  of  hope,  which  keeps  body 
and  soul  together,  soon  separate  under  these 
conditions. 

Aunt  Nancy  died  of  grief,  broken  hearted. 
The  fleeting  days  of  cold  winter  had  gone. 
It  was  early  spring  when  the  Divine  com- 
mand was  made  for  Aunt  Nancy,  who  died 
with  heavenly  consolation,  with  words  of 
faith  and  hope  on  her  lips,  and  was  laid  by 
the  side  of  Skipper  Davis. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THERE  were  few  dry  eyes  at  the 
funeral  obsequies  of  Aunt  Nancy. 
One  and  all  of  her  acquaintances,  remember- 
ing now  the  many  kind  a6ls  she  had  done  for 
them  when  in  sickness  and  trouble,  felt  it 
incumbent  on  them  to  see  her  remains. 
David  walked  home  from  the  funeral  thought- 
ful, with  his  mind  confused,  and  now  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life  felt  lonesome.  Some  of 
the  neighbors  came  in  out  of  respect,  some 
for  curiosity.  Jack  would  have  been  pleased 
to  stay  with  him,  but  David  showed  by  his 
silence  he  would  rather  Jack  would  stay  at 
home.  David  passed  the  night  alone  in  the 
cottage,  in  deep  meditation.  In  this  mood,  for 
several  days,  David  remained  in  the  cottage, 
much  perplexed  as  to  what  his  future  course 


88       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

should  be.  After  a  time  he  solved  the  prob- 
lem, to  his  satisfaction,  and  soon  after  put  it 
into  effect,  as  the  sequel  shows. 

While  David  was  living  in  the  cottage, 
an  individual,  claiming  to  be  Aunt  Nancy's 
next  of  kin,  came  and  carried  away  the  furni- 
ture and  all  the  movables  against  the  protest 
of  Skipper  Davis'  creditors,  not  leaving  even 
a  bed  for  David,  acting  on  the  principle  that 
"  might  makes  right." 

Aunt  Nancy  had  often  plainly  expressed  in 
direct  terms,  that  what  she  had  or  what  she 
left  belonged  to  David.  The  whole  neighbor- 
hood were  indignant  and  thought  it  an  imposi- 
tion. The  old  hero,  the  Commodore,  with 
words  that  lacked  reverence  to  Divinity,  said 
to  Aunt  Nancy's  kinsman,  "I  would  blow 
you  out  of  water,  you  hell-hound,  if  I  had  a 
gun  loaded,"  showing  the  metal  the  old  hero 
was  made  of.  With  flashing  eyes  that  eighty- 
three  years  had  not  dimmed  he  said,  "You 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       89 

ought  to  be  keel-hauled  you  d d  land 

shark." 

Aunt  Nancy  left  an  old  Bible  that  had  been 
her  solace  and  comfort  all  the  days  of  so 
many  years.  She  had  marked  passages  in  the 
book  from  Genesis  to  Revelations,  for  David 
to  read  carefully  and  reflect  on,  after  she  was 
dead.  David  allowed  Aunt  Nancy's  kinsman 
to  carry  off  everything  without  remonstrance, 
except  the  Bible.  In  regard  to  that,  David's 
countenance  indexed  his  mind,  and  the  kins- 
man had  discretion  enough  to  let  the  Bible 
alone.  David  had  all  the  time  there  was,  but 
not  enough  to  get  mad,  as  that  would  take  six 
weeks,  and  six  years  to  get  over  it. 

David  was  a  lover  of  nature.  There  was 
something  implanted  in  him — a  brooding  ten- 
derness toward  all  the  human  family,  but  enig- 
matical even  to  them  that  knew  him  best. 
When  Aunt  Nancy  died  she  was  not  pecun- 
iarily indebted  to  any  one.  David  would  not 


90       THR    KOMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

permit  her  to  be  buried  at  the  public  expense. 
For  this  reason  he  remained  at  Pemaquid,  to 
gain  by  labor  at  boat  fishing  money  enough  to 
pay  her  funeral  expenses.  When  he  had  ac- 
complished his  purpose  he  would  bid  fare- 
well to  Pemaquid,  and  carry  his  project  into 
effea. 

David  had  built  himself  a  wherry  the  past 
winter,  which  was  a  model  specimen  of  his 
skill.  In  the  months  of  May  and  June,  David 
went  fishing  with  Jack  in  the  wherry.  He 
then  paid  the  debts,  giving  everyone  his  due 
and  had  a  small  surplus  in  his  pocket.  He 
started  in  the  wherry  with  his  meagre  belong- 
ings, including  a  gun  and  pup,  and  sailed 
away  from  Pemaquid  early  in  the  morning, 
with  fair  weather  on  a  beautiful  July  day, 
leaving  the  cottage  to  go  to  ruin. 

Poor  Jack,  who  was  known  as  Jack  Froth 
by  the  fishermen,  would  have  sailed  the  world 
around  with  David  in  the  wherry,  if  given  the 


THE    ROMANTIC    STOUY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       9! 

opportunity.  Notwithstanding  his  honest 
heart  his  failing  was  his  mouth,  which  was 
open  on  all  occasions,  his  tongue  running 
with  perpetual  motion  from  July  to  January. 
David  had  due  sense  of  all  the  favors  he  had 
received  from  Jack,  and  would  have  divided 
his  last  dollar  with  him,  but  could  not  endure 
Jack's  neverceasing  talkativeness.  More  than 
that  he  did  not  think  it  would  be  for  Jack's 
interest. 

When  Jack  found  David  was  gone,  he  took 
it  to  heart,  and  was  pained  at  the  manner  in 
which  he  considered  David  had  left  him.  A 
sincere  attachment  Jack  had  for  David,  which 
Jack  thought  was  mutual.  David's  a6tions 
surprised  him,  and  for  once  in  his  life  his 
loquacity  was  at  a  full  stop. 

David  sailed  away  to  the  eastward,  leaving 
Georges  Island  on  the  starboard  hand,  then 
following  the  shore  of  St.  George  to  Tenant's 
Harbor,  thence  to  White  Head,  the  entrance 


92       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

to  the  Mussel  Ridge  channel.  The  way  now 
led  in  and  out  through  mazy  windings,  leav- 
ing island  after  island  mostly  on  the  port  hand. 
The  diversified  appearance  of  these  islands 
covered  with  primal  evergreen  trees,  fasci- 
nated him  now  more  than  ever  on  that  delight- 
ful July  day.  The  scenery  thrilled  him  with 
pleasing  sensations.  The  sea  fowl  were  be- 
yond enumeration.  With  a  single  discharge 
of  his  gun  he  killed  six,  and  his  young 
retriever  dog  prompted  by  instinct,  was  quickly 
after  them. 

The  south  wind  was  dying  out,  and  the 
western  sun  was  about  two  hours  high  when 
David  landed  on  the  shingle  beach  on  one  of 
those  bowery  islands  in  the  Mussel  Ridge 
channel.  With  his  flint  and  steel  he  soon 
had  a  fire  ready  to  prepare  his  supper.  He 
skinned  the  birds,  removing  the  skin  and 
feathers  together,  then  split  them  in  halves 
and  laid  them  on  the  coals,  with  a  sprinkling 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    RORERTSON.       93 

of  salt.     This  with  sea   biscuit   and  a  pot  of 
tea  composed  his  supper. 

Under  the  boughs  of  a  stately  spruce  tree 
that  stood  near  high  water  mark,  David  made 
his  bed.  He  cut  boughs  and  covered  them 
with  the  wherry  sail,  with  his  blanket  for  a 
spread,  and  turned  the  wherry  over  all,  then 
turned  in  and  slept  as  comfortable  as  if  he 
lay  in  a  bed  of  down. 

The  next  morning  when  the  sun  was  rising, 
David  turned  out  and  prepared  his  frugal,  but 
wholesome  breakfast.  With  buoyant  spirits 
he  sailed  away,  with  a  gentle  westerly  breeze 
blowing,  continuing  his  course  to  the  east- 
ward. At  the  time  the  sun  was  at  her  meri- 
dian, he  arrived  among  a  cluster  of  islands  of 
various  sizes  and  descriptions.  On  one  of 
these  he  landed  on  a  pebbly  beach,  where 
there  was  an  excellent  boat  harbor.  He  had 
particularly  noticed  this  island  when  sailing 
in  the  old  chebacco  boat.  It  was  a  sight 


94        THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSOX. 

which  he  had  seen  before,  but  now  on  the 
island  the  scenery  was  fascinating,  from  all 
points  of  the  compass.  He  walked  around 
the  island  to  see  if  he  could  find  fresh  water, 
and  discovered  a  small  purling  stream,  which 
led  to  a  thick  clump  of  evergreen  trees. 
Bubbling  there  from  a  lime  rock  ledge  was  a 
delicious  flow  of  water,  clear  as  crystal.  A 
few  rods  to  the  south  of  the  spring  there  was 
a  hummock  with  a  ledge  that  formed  a  preci- 
pice facing  south.  The  land  surrounding  the 
ledge  was  mostly  covered  with  a  young- 
growth  of  balmy  spruce  and  cedar  trees, 
which  concealed  the  ledge  from  view.  It 
formed  a  complete  barrier  and  shelter  from 
the  cold  north  winds,  encircling  the  place 
from  east  to  west.  In  this  sylvan  spot  David 
built  his  cot  and  lived  in  rustic  solitude. 

Night  was  approaching,  the  beautiful  July 
day  was  almost  gone  when  David  built  a  fire 
and  prepared  his  supper.  His  gun  and  fish- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       95 

ing  line  bountifully  supplied  his  larder.  His 
supper  consisted  of  a  black  duck  and  a  bloater 
mackerel  cooked  on  the  live  coals.  After 
supper  he  made  his  bed  of  boughs  beneath  the 
thick  branches  of  a  spruce  tree,  then  turned 
the  wherry  over  the  boughs  as  on  the  previous 
night.  Before  turning  in  he  replenished  his 
fire  and  laid  on  the  fuel  so  as  to  prevent  its 
burning  away  too  rapidly,  and  lay  down  on 
his  bed  of  boughs,  thinking  and  planning  of 
his  work  tomorrow,  until  he  went  to  sleep. 

When  he  awoke  the  sun  was  up  and  shin- 
ing and  the  birds  were  singing.  With  a  sense 
of  happiness,  his  thoughts  reverted  to  the 
plans  he  had  laid  out  for  the  day.  Their 
accomplishment  would  afford  him  pleasure. 
He  turned  out,  cooked  and  ate  his  breakfast, 
then  commenced  the  hard  but  pleasant  labor 
of  building  the  chimney  for  his  cabin,  using 
the  face  of  the  ledge  for  the  chimney  back, 
lie  built  two  abutments  out  of  flat  rocks, 


g         THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

making  blue  clay  take  the  place  of  mortar, 
leaving  a  recess  between  the  abutments  which 
he  arched  over  forming  a  fireplace,  then  ex- 
tending the  abutment  connected  to  the  top  of 
the  ledge.  Then  the  chimney  was  complete. 
The  chimney  lasted  good  for  years. 

David's  gravity  and  wisdom  was  beyond 
his  years.  He  had  educated  himself  by 
observation  of  nature,  deriving  his  knowledge 
from  a  watchful  attention  to  the  whys  and 
wherefores,  and  then  drawing  his  own  conclu- 
sions. Although  ignorant  in  some  respects  of 
things  that  a  school  boy  wonld  be  familiar 
with,  nevertheless  by  a  few  well  directed 
words  he  would  confound  a  sage.  David 
was  no  drone.  He  maintained  his  self-respe6l. 
He  was  no  man's  slave  and  no  man's  master, 
but  preserved  genuine  independence,  and 
was  honestly  willing  to  earn  his  bread.  The 
few  that  knew  him  called  him  eccentric  be- 
caues  he  did  his  own  thinking. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.       97 

There  was  scarcely  a  river  or  stream  in 
eastern  Maine  at  that  time  but  had  a  saw  mill, 
with  an  abundance  of  white  pine  in  the  near 
vicinity.  Of  every  log  sawed  there  were  left 
two  or  more  slabs,  which  were  set  adrift  as 
useless,  this  being  the  best  way  to  get  clear 
of  them. 

The  next  three  days  David  in  the  wherry 
went  beach  combing  among  the  archipelago  or 
sea  of  islands,  collecting  these  drift  slabs, 
which  he  used  to  build  his  cabin.  The  frame 
of  the  cabin  consisted  of  sills,  plates,  ridge 
plank  and  scantling,  which  he  picked  up  or 
hewed  out  of  slabs.  The  slabs  for  the  walls 
he  cut  eight  feet  long,  chipping  the  ends  to  a 
uniform  thickness,  then  tree-nailed  them  to 
the  sills  and  plates  with  the  sawed  side  out. 
Then  he  covered  them  with  sawed  sides  put 
together  so  as  to  break  the  joints,  which 
made  the  walls  double  and  tight.  The  rooi 
was  built  in  the  same  manner.  The  door 


98       THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

was  in  the  eastern  end  and  opposite  the 
chimney,  with  two  windows,  without  glass, 
covered  with  sliding  shutters.  The  floor  was 
also  made  of  slabs,  sawed  side  up,  and  tree- 
nailed  to  the  sleepers.  His  principal  tools 
were  an  axe,  saw,  spike  gimlet  and  jack- 
knife. 

There  is  a  kind  of  sedge  grass  that  grows 
around  marshes  on  the  sea  board  which  David 
gathered  and  dried.  The  pleasant  odor  of 
this  grass  lasts  for  years.  He  used  a  quantity 
of  it  for  his  bed,  and  the  balmy  perfume 
from  the  young  spruce  and  cedar  trees  that 
thickly  surrounded  the  cabin,  afforded  a 
most  agreeable  sensation.  The  cabin  was 
not  more  than  ten  rods  from  the  beach  or 
boat  landing,  but  entirely  concealed.  It  was 
approached  by  a  circuitous  route  back  of  the 
ledge,  thickly  spread  with  evergreen  trees. 
The  situation  of  the  cabin  was  satifactory  to 
David,  for  in  his  absence  it  would  not  be 


DAVID  ROBERTSON'S  CABIN. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     IOI 

likely  to  be  disturbed  and  would  keep  unwel- 
come visitors  away.  David  preferred  seclu- 
sion and  privacy.  Nevertheless  he  would 
occasionlly  entertain  a  favored  few. 

The  boat  fishermen  were  often  ashore  on 
the  island  digging  clams  for  bait.  With  now 
and  then  an  excursion  from  the  neighboring 
islands,  berrying  in  summer,  he  made  a  virtue 
of  necessity  and  kept  his  cabin  concealed  from 
public  view.  By  his  industry  and  diligence, 
working  early  and  late,  he  moved  into  his 
cabin  the  first  of  August,  exchanging  the 
bough  bed  for  the  bunk  of  sweet  scented 
grass.  The  toil  of  the  day  had  brought  sweet 
repose,  and  with  his  mind  at  ease  and  his 
plans  matured,  he  enjoyed  the  refreshing 
slumber  that  comes  of  labor. 

It  had  now  become  necessary  for  David  to 
leave  the  work  that  had  afforded  him  so  much 
gratification.  The  pleasant  days  of  August 
and  September  were  the  halcyon  days  for 


IO2    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

small  boat  fishing.  With  fish  he  could  get 
all  the  necessaries  of  life,  having  no  inclina- 
tion for  luxuries. 

David  left  no  opportunity  negle6ted.  With 
his  habitual  industry,  during  these  months  he 
caught  fish  more  than  enough  for  his  frugal 
wants.  Among  the  neighboring  islands  were 
owned  several  small  vessels.  In  the  fall  of 
the  year  the  fishermen  would  load  one  of  the 
vessels  for  a  western  market  with  dried  fish 
which  were  given  to  the  captain  in  trust,  to 
sell  or  exchange  for  their  winter  stores.  A 
barter  traffic  was  carried  on  in  those  times 
between  merchant  and  fisherman,  The  mer- 
chant stipulated  to  pay  one-half  cash  snd  one- 
half  in  goods.  David  shipped  his  fish  by  the 
freighter,  giving  the  captain  a  list  of  his  wants 
including  a  few  books  to  be  added  to  his 
limited  library,  which  comprised  all  told  Bun- 
yan's  Pilgrim's  Progress,  Milton's  Paradise 
Lost,  his  school  books,  almanac,  Walker's 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     1 03 

Dictionary  and  Bible.  When  resting  from 
labor  David  was  educating  himself.  His 
common  sense  and  habits  of  reflection  and 
reasoning,  in  time  brought  about  the  result. 

It  had  been  previously  agreed  between 
David  and  the  captain  of  the  freighter  that  if 
he  had  an  apportunity  he  would  stop  at  the 
island  on  his  return  and  land  his  stores.  It  was 
time  for  the  fish  freighter's  return  and  David 
was  on  the  lookout.  A  signal  gun  informed 
him  of  the  arrival.  With  his  wherry  he  soon 
landed  his  stores.  The  settlement  with  the 
captain  was  satisfactory.  The  returns  sur- 
passed his  expectations.  David  had  now 
more  than  enough.  Besides,  a  contented 
mind  is  a  continual  feast,  which  is  a  self-evi- 
dent truth  that  antedates  the  flood. 

An  educated  stranger  meeting  David  would 
observe  his  gentle  manner  and  would  notice, 
by  his  language,  that  he  had  obtained  the 
rudiments  of  a  limited  education,  of  course, 


IO4    TMK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBEHTSON. 

owing  to  his  youth  and  the  seclusion  in  which 
he  lived. 

During  the  few  pleasant  days  of  Indian 
summer  David  continued  boat  fishing,  but 
when  the  cold,  bleak  winds  of  November 
made  it  solitary  and  comfortless,  he  found 
employment  cutting  wood  for  winter  use, 
stowing  it  away  in  a  hovel  made  of  slabs. 
In  the  intervening  time  he  had  built  a  gunning- 
float.  The  sea  birds  were  abundant  and  with 
the  float  concealed  with  rock-weed,  he  could 
shoot  more  than  he  wanted.  After  plucking 
the  feathers,  the  birds  with  the  exception  of 
black  duck,  were  worthless.  He  used  discre- 
tion, not  shooting  any  more  than  he  could 
pick.  He  found  a  ready  market  for  the 
feathers  he  obtained  from  the  sea  birds,  and 
they  brought  him  ready  money. 

The  black  duck  is  by  nature  shy,  suspicious 
and  cautious,  and  considered  by  the  rich  and 
poor  alike  a  luxury.  Often  he  sat  out  on 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     105 

pleasure  bent,  on  moon  light  nights,  after  black 
ducks,  which  afforded  him  pleasure  and  profit. 
Among  these  islands  there  were  rivulets  flow- 
ing into  the  sea,  which  the  ducks  frequent  by 
night  for  fresh  water.  The  black  sea  duck  is 
by  nature  a  night  wanderer,  wary  and  keen  of 
scent;  if  approached  from  windward,  he  is  off 
with  a  quack,  and  you  have  your  pains  for 
your  trouble. 

David  built  booths  of  boughs  and  would 
lie  behind  the  blind  concealed  at  times  for 
for  hours,  but  generally  by  this  stratagem 
shot  ducks  enough  to  well  pay  for  his  mingled 
feelings  of  distress  and  delight.  David  now 
with  all  the  comforts  that  rustic  life  affords, 
hidden  from  public  view,  the  summer  gone, 
the  dreary  days  of  stormy  winter  at  hand, 
living  alone  in  harmony  with  the  laws  of  God, 
guided  by  reason,  and  envying  no  man,  would 
not  exchange  his  lot  for  the  crown  of  a 

O 

sovereign. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  last  days  of  January  were  extreme- 
ly cold,  the  ice  making  on  the  shores 
so  that  the  islands  were  enclosed  with  walls 
of  ice.  In  February  he  went  among  the 
islands  in  the  vicinity  on  the  ice,  with  his  gun 
and  dog,  alter  martins  or  minks,  a  kind  of 
weasel  which  were  found  in  great  plenty  on 
the  rocky  shore  cliffs  among  the  islands,  the 
snow  plainly  showing  their  tracks.  He 
would  cross  from  island  to  island  until  the 
shades  of  night  were  beginning  to  fall,  then 
with  a  back  load  of  minks  would  hie  his  way 
home  to  his  cabin.  The  pelts  were  a  source 
of  profit  equivalent  to  money. 

Roving  amidst  the  islands  in  quest  of 
game,  it  would  sometimes  happen  that  he 
would  unexpectedly  surprise  and  shoot  a  red 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     1 07 

fox.  David's  dog  was  a  mongrel  whose  so- 
called  instinct  would  surprise  a  naturalist,  who 
will  never  admit  that  a  dog  is  capable  of 
thought.  "  Instin6t"  is  not  a  satisfactory  ex- 
planation of  the  sagacity  and  understanding 
of  a  trained  dog,  and  it  remains  inexplicable, 
except  upon  the  ground  of  some  conscious 
intelligence.  His  dog  was  an  excellent  water 
retriever,  rendering  him  invaluable  when 
David  shot  wild  fowl.  She  was  delighted 
when  allowed  to  bring  or  carry.  When 
David  went  gunning  after  sea  birds  the  instant 
the  gun  was  discharged  the  dog  was  off  after 
the  fowl  in  the  ice  cold  water  in  the  coldest 
weather,  leaving  the  dead  birds  in  order  to  get 
the  wounded  first.  They  were  halcyon  days, 
for  his  labor  was  to  him  a  pleasure. 

The  winter  passed  in  tranquility  and  con- 
tentment, cruising  or  hunting  on  sunny  days 
of  winter,  with  his  gun  and  dog,  and  elated 
with  his  successes,  which  he  well  merited  by 


IO8    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OK    DAVID  ROfcERTSON. 

his  thrift  and  industry.  The  evenings  were 
invariably  spent  in  the  cabin,  obtaining  useful 
information. 

When  these  islands  were  first  settled  the 
shore  waters  abounded  in  fish,  mackerel,  her- 
ring and  menhaden  being  predominate.  They 
were  used  for  bait  by  the  fishermen,  in  lieu  of 
clams,  when  obtainable.  Under  the  solar 
influence  the  ice  embargo  that  had  been  on 
for  two  months  was  now  disappearing.  Signs 
of  spring  were  making  their  appearance. 

David  was  an  inventive  genius.  He  had 
never  seen  a  fish  weir,  and  all  he  knew  about 
it  was  from  a  meagre  discription  given  him 
by  Skipper  Davis  when  in  the  old  chebacco 
boat.  With  a  plan  well  matured,  he  now 
started  to  construct  a  fish  weir,  working  early 
and  late  gathering  materials,  which  were 
mostly  obtained  from  the  adjacent  islands, 
then  brought  or  towed  in  the  wherry  to  the 
place  where  the  weir  was  to  be  built.  This 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     1 09 

work  necessitated  hard  labor,  yet  the  anticipa- 
tion of  the  result  made  the  labor  a  source  of 
gratification. 

From  a  point  of  land  a  sand  spit  extended 
from  the  shore  forming  an  inlet  or  boat  har- 
bor. Here  David  built  the  weir,  extending  it 
into  tide  water  below  low  water  mark.  His 
method  of  executing  the  work  was  simply  by 
driving  stakes  and  then  interweaving  alder 
brush,  making  a  hedge,  with  a  heart  shaped 
trap  at  the  outer  end,  covering  the  sides  of 
the  trap  with  a  net  made  of  marline.  It  was 
a  long  tedious  job,  he  having  to  do  the  work 
alone. 

He  completed  the  weir  the  first  of  May. 
The  boat  fishermen  had  arrived,  visiting 
David  and  offering  suggestions.  David  lis- 
tened with  indifference,  satisfied,  in  his  own 
mind,  they  did  not  know  what  they  were 
talking  about.  Arguing  amongst  themselves, 
one  old  fisherman  said,  "It's  against  common 


I  IO     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSON. 

sense  and  reason  to  catch  fish  in  a  brush 
fence,"  and  another  replied:  "So  say  I,  if  a 
fish  went  in  that  hole  he'd  swim  out  quicker 
than  he  went  in,  unless  I  am  a  fool."  His 
prediction  about  the  fish  proved  him  a  false 
prophet,  as  regards  the  fool,  a  true  one,  for 
David  caught  fish  in  the  pound  of  the  weir, 
in  abundance.  The  weir  being  almost  an 
original  conception,  proved  a  happy  termina- 
tion of  his  hopes  and  fears,  the  success  of 
which  greatly  pleased  him,  but  he  was  free 
from  vanity  and  self-conceit.  A  barter  trade 
was  carried  on  between  David  and  the  fisher- 
men, David  furnishing  the  fresh  bait  in  return 
for  the  cod  fish,  the  traffic  being  satisfactory 
to  both,  likewise,  remunerative  to  David. 

When  David  had  completed  the  weir  his 
hopes  were  not  realized  at  first.  During  the 
month  of  May  he  caught  very  few  fish,  with 
the  exception  of  salmon,  which  he  smoked 
and  dried.  Almost  all  fish  are  migratory. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      I  I  I 

The  mackerel  and  menhaden  did  not  make 
their  appearance  with  June.  These  fish  are 
very  plentiful  in  the  shore  waters  of  Maine, 
with  its  250  miles  of  ocean  frontage,  in  a 
straight  line  from  Kittery  Point  to  Quoddy 
Head,  including  in  its  indentures  of  bays  and 
rivers,  a  total  of  2140  miles  of  sea  coast. 

The  principal  use  the  early  settlers  made  of 
these  fish  was  for  bait  to  catch  bottom  fish. 
The  three  summer  months  were  elysian  days 
for  David,  who  enjoyed  the  light  labor  of 
tending  the  pound  of  the  weir,  and  curing  the 
codfish  which  he  received  in  lieu  of  the  men- 
haden and  mackerel  caught  in  the  weir. 
These  fish  were  the  equivalant  of  money. 

By  the  world  at  large,  money  is  reckoned 
as  an  important  substitute  for  happiness,  but 
it  does  not  always  bring  it  about.  David,  like 
the  rest  of  the  world,  liked  money,  but  would 
not  sacrifice  principle  for  it.  There  was  no 
secret  about  David's  making  money:  first,  by 


112    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

well  matured  plans  of  labor  which  he  accom- 
plished; second,  by  industry,  together  with 
good  common  sense  and  genius  combined; 
thirdly,  he  spent  less  money  than  he  obtained, 
and  could  justly  apply  the  old  witticism: 
"  Handsome  is,  as  handsome  does." 

David  now  had  plenty  of  spare  time,  and 
more  company  than  was  agreeable.  The 
fishermen  with  their  light  and  frivolous  ways 
and  speechifying,  were  not  always  congenial 
to  him.  Notwithstanding  these  defeats,  they 
were  liberal,  charitable  and  generous. 

The  summer  passed  away,  and  once  more 
Old  Boreas  made  his  appearance  with  his  icy 
blast,  the  signal  for  the  fishermen  to  wend 
their  way  homeward.  The  fishermen  all 
respected  David  for  his  estimable  qualities, 
and  many  were  the  invitations  he  received  to 
spend  the  winter  with  them  in  their  humble 
cottages.  David  preferred  the  seclusion  and 
privacy  of  his  cabin  with  its  enchanting  visions, 


THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     113 

wherein  he  lived  over  again  the  scenes  of 
the  last  winter,  enjoying  one  of  the  greatest 
blessings  of  God  to  man,  contentment. 

It  now  became  necessary  for  David  to  go 
in  the  wherry  some  distance,  to  see  the  captain 
of  the  fish  freighter,  to  make  arrangements 
with  him  to  stop  at  his  island,  to  take  his  fish 
for  market.  David  set  out  at  sunrise  in  the 
wherry,  with  a  fair  wind,  arriving  at  the  Cap- 
tain's house  at  one  o'clock.  After  making 
satisfactory  arrangements,  he  then  set  out  for 
home.  The  wind  was  ahead  and  blowing 
fresh.  He  kept  under  the  lee  of  the  islands 
as  much  as  possible,  keeping  warm  by  row- 
ing. 

Night  was  fast  approaching,  when  he  land- 
ed on  an  island  where  there  was  a  rustic 
farmhouse,  built  of  logs  and  slabs.  Hauling 
up  the  wherry  out  of  the  tide's  way,  he 
went  to  the  house  and  knocked.  A  short, 
thick-set  man  came  to  the  door  and  David 


114    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

explained  to  him  the  situation.  With  a  cheer- 
ful invitation  of  "Come  in,  you  are  as  welcome 
as  the  flowers  of  May,"  the  old  gentleman 
introduced  him  to  his  daughter  and  her 
husband.  When  supper  was  ready,  he  was 
cordially  invited  to  "set  by."  The  supper 
was  abundant  and  plentiful.  David  being 
hungry,  did  the  repast  ample  justice 

There  was  a  cheerful  wood  fire  in  the  fire- 
place, serving  to  enliven  and  animate  the 
inmates  of  the  house.  The  evening  was 
spent  with  sociable  and  animated  conversa- 
tion, host  and  hostess  dispensing  a  generous 
hospitality.  The  hospitality  of  the  retired 
and  primitive  settlers  of  those  islands  was 
unlimited,  and  the  stranger  always  found  a 
cordial  and  kind  reception. 

The  next  morning,  after  an  earl}7  breakfast, 
with  a  friendly  parting,  David  was  off  for 
home.  When  he  got  within  a  mile  or  more 
of  his  island,  his  dog  who  had  been  left  to 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     115 

watch,  saw  him  with  that  keenness  of  vision 
with  which  she  was  endowed  by  nature.  She 
swam  off  to  meet  him,  expressing  by  actions, 
more  than  language  can  describe,  her  glad- 
ness. 

The  first  thing  done  after  getting  home,  was 
to  put  his  merchandise  in  shape  for  shipment 
in  the  freighter.  He  stored  and  neatly  packed 
the  codfish  and  smoked  salmon  in  convenient 
packages,  also  his  pelts  and  feathers,  with  a 
dozen  or  more  barrels  of  mackerel  and  her- 
ring. This  work  completed,  he  then  care- 
fully made  out  his  list  of  goods.  He  could 
have  the  luxuries  as  well  as  the  necessities  of 
life,  but  he  would  have  lived  with  frugality  if 
he  had  had  the  exchequer  or  the  revenue  of 
England. 

In  due  time,  the  freighter  made  the  round 
trip.  When  the  settlement  was  made,  and  he 
received  his  money  and  stores,  the  captain 
remarked  to  David,  "You  are  high  line  among 


Il6    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

the  fishermen  this  year."  David  had  pride 
without  vanity,  and  he  received,  with  appre- 
ciation, the  well  merited  compliment. 

Captain  Cook,  master  of  the  schooner 
Mary  F.,  was  prominent  among  the  island 
towns.  He  had  become  somewhat  famous 
for  making  quick  trips,  as  a  cord  wood  coaster. 
When  on  his  passage  home  from  Boston,  he 
was  overtaken  by  a  heavy  south-east  gale  of 
wind,  in  the  Mussel  Ridge  channel.  When 
he  passed  Owl's  Head  it  was  midnight. 
Under  a  double  reefed  foresail,  he  had  to 
cross  Penobscot  Bay  to  Mark  Island.  His 
course  was  to  leave  Mark  Island  on  the  port 
hand  close  aboard,  then  through  the  thorough- 
fare into  East  Penobscot  Bay.  It  was  as  dark 
as  Egyptian  midnight,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents 
and  the  gale  blew  in  tempestuous  gusts.  The 
schooner  steered  wild,  owing  to  the  heavy  sea 
that  was  heaving  in  from  the  unbroken  seas 
of  the  Atlantic.  The  wind  was  aft  the  beam. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.     I  17 

The  captain  who  was  at  the  helm,  not  making 
proper  allowance,  the  schooner  run  to  the 
eastward  of  the  course  and  struck  on  the 
rocks  that  lay  to  the  eastward  of  Mark 
Island.  The  seas  boarded  the  schooner  in  a 
terrific  manner,  staving  the  boats  at  the 
davits.  The  tide  was  making  flood.  The 
small  chance  of  saving  their  lives,  appalled 
the  stoutest  heart  among  them. 

David  was  in  his  cabin  to  leeward  of  the 
wreck,  when  his  dog  began  to  a6l  in  a  strange 
manner,  howling  and  scratching  at  the  door. 
David  let  the  dog  out  and  she  ran  to  the 
shore,  then  back  to  the  cabin,  barking  inces- 
santly. David  put  on  his  oiled  clothes  and 
followed  the  dog  to  the  shore.  He  launched 
the  wherry  and  then  rowed  to  windward, 
keeping  under  the  shelter  of  the  island,  and 
crossed  the  thoroughfare  by  dint  of  hard 
rowing.  With  the  aid  of  the  dog,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  the  wreck,  and  managed  to 


IlS    THE    KOMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  RORERTSOX. 

get  them  on  terra  firma.  The  heavy  south- 
east gales  on  the  Maine  coast  are  of  short 
duration. 

Next  morning  the  wind  was  northwest  and 
icy  cold  and  very  little  was  saved  of  the 
schooner.  The  succeeding  months  until  Feb- 
ruary, David  was  hunting  for  minks  or 
gunning  for  sea  birds,  with  lucrative  results. 
In  February,  owing  to  the  severe  cold  weather, 
he  stayed  at  home  in  the  cabin,  with  a  cheer- 
ful open  fire  that  burned  in  the  fireplace, 
ruddy  and  florid,  dispensing  comfort.  He 
fully  realized  the  contrast  betwixt  the  warm 
cabin,  and  the  cold,  frigid  weather  outside. 
He  was  busily  employed  in  the  daytime, 
knitting  nets  or  weaving  ash  baskets.  The 
evening  he  spent  with  his  books,  which  was 
his  habitual  custom,  summer  or  winter,  and 
so  the  days  and  nights  alike  passed  felicitously. 

The  winter  was  severe,  the  longest  contin- 
uation of  sharp,  cold  weather  ever  known  by 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    119 

the  settlers.  The  bay  was  frozen  to  the  outer 
islands.  Horses  with  sleighs  were  crossing 
the  bay  until  March.  David's  insular  situa- 
tion was  now  no  protection,  his  island  lying 
in  a  direcY  line  of  travel  between  the  large 
island  towns  and  the  main  land.  He  would 
often  see  teams  hauling  hay  and  goods,  with 
now  and  then  a  traveller,  who  would  stop  and 
partake  of  David's  hospitality. 

David  was  so  constituted  by  nature  that  he 
derived  comfort  from  solitude  and  deep  med- 
itation. The  days  of  winter  passed  quickly 
away.  The  ice  was  breaking  up,  drifting 
seaward.  The  welcome  heralds  of  spring, 
the  wild  geese  were  on  their  passage  north- 
ward. The  jolly  fishermen  had  come  to  their 
old  haunts  after  early  fish  for  home  market. 
David  now  rebuilt  the  weir,  which  necessi- 
tated some  hard  labor,  from  dawn  to  sunset, 
but  with  the  experience  he  had,  besides  his 
relish  for  work,  it  was  soon  completed. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

DAVID  lived  on  the  island  for  three 
years,  with  unalloyed  happiness  and 
peace  and  prosperity.  The  weir  proved  a 
successful  undertaking.  The  net  result  of  the 
fishing  season  appeared  to  be  one  that  would 
leave  him  a  competence,  or  at  least  a  suffi- 
ciency. 

In  October,  David  packed  his  merchandise 
ready  for  market,  and  now  anxiously  looked 
for  the  fish  freighter.  A  fishing  schooner 
anchored  near  the  beach.  The  captain  directly 
came  on  shore,  and  appeared  to  be  in  a  hurry, 
meeting  David  with  a  friendly  salutation,  with 
a  pat  on  his  shoulder,  and  a  tongue  as  smooth 
as  oil,  using  undue  familiarity  for  a  stranger, 
saying:  "I  have  come  after  your  freight,  sent 
by  Capt.  W.  Please  use  all  the  dispatch  pos- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      121 

sible,  as  my  business  is  urgent.  I  have 
stopped  merely  for  your  accommodation." 
Hurry  was  not  a  part  of  David's  makeup.  In 
his  mind,  he  was  entertaining  suspicion  of  the 
captain,  judging  from  appearances.  The 
captain,  now  coaxing,  now  flattering,  David 
listening.  The  captain  now  changed  his 
tactics.  ''  Well,  I  can't  stay  here  all  day.  If 
you  don't  hurry  up,  I  shall  get  under  way  and 
be  off."  David  replied  in  two  words.  :?  You 
go,"  then  walked  off  to  the  cabin. 

For  several  days  he  was  in  a  quandary, 
thinking  what  was  to  be  done  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, lie  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  would  hire  or  charter  a  small  fisherman 
and  carry  his  own  freight.  There  was  a 
cralt  on  an  island  in  the  near  vicinity,  that 
would  suit  his  purpose.  After  making  the 
necessary  arrangements,  and  chartering  the 
schooner,  the  freighter  that  was  to  take  his 
lish  arrived.  David  then  related  to  the  cap- 


122    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

tain  the  incident  of  the  vessel's  coming  after 
his  freight.  The  captain  had  no  knowledge 
of  the  transaction,  nor  could  he,  from  David's 
description,  recognize  the  vessel  or  the  master. 
David  canceled  his  obligation  with  the  small 
schooner,  and  put  his  freight  on  board  the 
freighter.  The  captain  earnestly  invited 
David  to  take  the  trip,  so  David  decided  to 
go,  and  went  to  Boston  in  the  freighter. 

David  once  more  on  board  a  fisherman, 
felt  at  home,  ate  his  allowance,  stood  his 
watch,  steered  his  trick,  and  helped  make  and 
take  in  sail,  enjoying  the  familiar  scenes  with 
satisfaction.  He  had  never  been  in  a  city, 
and  when  he  arrived  in  Boston,  somehow,  it 
was  not  like  what  his  fancy  had  painted. 
The  confusion  and  noise  were  embarrassing 
to  him. 

The  vessel  lay  at  a  wharf  near  Quincy 
Market.  The  O6tober  day  was  misty  and 
chilly,  when  David  went  ashore  for  a  stroll, 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     123 

to  look  at  modern  Athens.  He  first  visited 
Quincy  Market,  where  he  had  an  opportunity 
of  using  of  all  his  five  senses,  gazing  with  in- 
terest and  wonderment,  as  he  slowly  walked 
through  the  market.  Then  he  went  to  Fan- 
euil  Hall,  and  to  Dock  Square,  crossing  the 
square  to  Washington  Street,  and  gazing  with 
surprise  as  he  leisurely  walked.  On  turning 
up  West  Street  he  came  to  the  Common,  and 
loitered  there  for  a  time,  until  he  called  to 
mind  that  it  was  time  to  go  on  board  the 
schooner.  He  started  in  the  direction  he  had 
come,  but  missed  the  turning.  He  walked 
on,  till  he  finally  got  back  to  the  Common. 
In  this  dilemma,  he  asked  a  boy  the  way  to 
the  market.  The  boy  replied :  "  Show  you 
the  way,  Mr.  for  ten  cents."  David  said,  "Go 
on,  I  will  give  you  ten  cents  when  we  get 
there."  "  No,  give  me  the  money  now,  and  I 
will  go  with  you  sure."  David,  with  suspi- 
cion, gave  the  boy  ten  cents.  The  young  Arab 


I  24    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

ran  away  with  his  thumb  to  his  nose,  wagging 
his  fingers,  and  said  ft  Verdant,  you  wait  till  I 
come  back,  and  I'll  show  you  the  way  to  the 
market,  sure." 

An  old  gentleman  who  had  witnessed  this 
scene,  understanding  David's  predicament, 
advised  him  to  take  a  cab.  With  the  gentle- 
man's assistance,  a  cab  was  called,  and  an 
agreement  made,  to  take  David  to  Quincy 
Market  for  twenty-five  cents.  In  less  than 
five  minutes,  David  was  at  the  market.  He 
passed  the  cabman  a  half  dollar,  expecting 
him  to  give  him  the  change.  The  cabman 
said,  "You  are  a  gentleman,"  and  was  off  be- 
fore David  had  time  to  protest. 

lie  was  now  in  a  fair  way  to  get  once  more 
on  board  the  vessel,  walking  hurridly 
through  the  market,  with  only  one  idea  in  his 
head,  to  find  the  schooner.  When  he  found 
the  schooner,  the  welcome  sight  was  something 
akin  to  the  gladness  of  the  mariner,  when  he 


THE    ROMANTIC     STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     125 

sights  land  after  being  a  long  time  at  sea. 
When  he  got  aboard,  the  jolly  old  skipper  of 
the  schooner,  by  dint  of  questioning,  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  the  story  out  of  David,  and 
jokingly  told  the  mate  if  David  went  ashore 
again,  to  tie  a  fish  line  to  him,  and  make  the 
end  fast  aboard. 

David,  if  occasion  required,  could  find  his 
way  across  the  Western  Ocean,  and  the  idea 
of  his  getting  lost  in  the  streets  of  Boston, 
caused  no  end  of  fun  for  the  jolly  skipper  and 
his  crew.  Nevertheless,  the  next  day  David 
went  ashore  but  paid  attention  to  the  course 
he  was  steering,  keeping  run  of  himself  by 
dead  reckoning  and  observation,  with  a  sharp 
lookout  for  the  lay  of  the  land,  as  well  as  the 
bearings  of  Quincy  Market,  walking  leisurely 
until  he  came  to  Cornhill.  On  the  right  hand 
side  of  the  street  he  found  an  antiquarian 
book-store,  and  went  in.  A  pleasant  old  gen- 
tleman was  in  attendance.  This  amenity  at 


126    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

once  gave  David  assurance  that  the  old  gen- 
tleman could  be  trusted.  He  talked  freely  to 
him,  an  unusual  and  rare  thing,  for  him  to  do, 
and  voluntarily  told  him  so  much  of  his  story 
that  the  old  gentleman  became  interested  in 
him. 

David's  object,  when  he  entered  the  store, 
was  to  get  himself  books,  and  he  made  known 
his  wants.  The  gentleman,  without  a  mer- 
cenary motive,  helped  David  make  an  assort- 
ment, and  truly  rendered  him  valuable  assis- 
tance, showing  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as 
personal  kindness  among  strangers  in  business 
transactions,  notwithstanding  the  maxim, 
f  There  is  no  friendship  in  trade."  Leaving 
his  books  to  be  sent  on  board  the  schooner, 
and  taking  a  cordial  leave  of  this  gentleman 
of  the  old  school,  David  continued  his  ram- 
bling, looking  in  the  shop  windows,  or  notic- 
ing the  passers  by,  speculating  and  theorizing, 
and  withal,  somewhat  excited  by  the  superior- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     1 27 

ity  of  things  open  to  his  view.  As  he  walked 
along  feasting  his  eyes,  he  was  accosted  by 
an  Israelite  clothier  with,  "Come  in  my  friend, 
I  will  sell  you  cheap,  the  best  coat  in  Boston. 
I  have  got  one  coat  that  will  fit  you.  The 
price  is  cheap  at  ten  dollars.  It  is  a  genuine 
Liverpool  pilot,  and  I  will  sell  it  to  you  for 
five  dollars,  mine  friend.  You  come  in  and 
try  that  coat  on."  David  tried  to  go  on, 
when  the  Jew  got  him  by  the  arm,  to  lead 
him  into  the  shop.  David  thought  the  Jew 
was  too  familiar  on  short  acquaintance,  and 
gave  him  a  shove  that  sent  him  head-long 
into  his  shop.  When  the  Jew  recovered  his 
equlibrium,  the  epithet  he  applied  to  David 
was,  "You  Cape  Cod,  Down  east,  all  along 

shore,  son  of  a  b h." 

David  now  started  to  go  on  board  the 
schooner.  He  knew  the  bearings  of  Quincy 
Market,  and  course  and  distance  would  take 
him  there.  The  general  course  he  could 


I  28    THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  RORERTSOX. 

define,  but  owing  to  the  intricacy  of  the  streets, 
with  their  labyrinthal  windings,  he  was  per- 
plexed and  bothered.  David  came  to  a  stand 
still  on  a  corner,  trying  to  decide  what  street 
to  take,  when  he  was  greeted  by  an  apparent- 
ly young  woman,  (who  could  hardly,  with  pro- 
priety, be  termed  a  lady,)  with  a  fond  "  How 
do  you  do,  dear?"  David's  first  impression 
was,  that  she  had  mistaken  him  for  someone 
else,  but  when  she  invited  him  to  treat  her  to  a 
bottle  of  wine,  David  blushed  with  shame  and 
confusion,  and  was  off,  when  she  said,  with 
audacity,  "  You  country  lout,  stop  when  you 
get  there." 

David,  without  further  disturbance  or 
trouble,  arrived  on  board  the  schooner.  The 
fish  were  sold,  the  freighter  discharged,  the 
stores  were  all  on  board,  and  the  schooner 
ready  for  sea.  The  next  morning,  if  the 
weather  permitted,  they  would  start  the 
schooner  for  home.  This  being  their  last 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     129 

Boston,  the  captain  and  his  mate  concluded 
to  go  to  the  National  Theatre,  and  prevailed 
upon  David  to  go  with  them.  The  dramatic 
performance  of  ?  The  Forty  Thieves,"  en- 
gaged David's  attention,  but  it  was  contrary 
to  his  nature  to  be  enthusiastically  excited, 
and  he  was  glad  when  the  exhibition  ended, 
as  peace  and  quietness  were  more  in  conform- 
ity with  his  feelings  than  noise  and  tumult, 
Not  so  with  the  jolly  skipper,  whose  guffaws 
and  boisterous  horse-laughs  were  hearty  and 
repeated.  These,  jolly  old  skippers  that 
flourished  fifty  years  ago,  by  their  upright 
conduct  and  honest  dealings  commanded 
respect  wherever  known. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  LITTLE  after  sunrise,  on  the  first 
day  of  November,  with  a  moderate 
breeze  they  fiilled  away  for  home.  When 
the  watch  was  set  at  eight  o'clock  that  night, 
Cape  Ann  bore  southwest,  ten  miles  distant. 
In  conformity  with  that  class  of  vessels,  the 
captain  took  her  out,  and  the  mate  took  her 
home,  consequently,  it  wa^s  the  mate's  eight 
hours  on  deck.  The  night  was  dark,  the  stars 
obscure,  the  weather  catching,  so  they  decided 
to  run  the  shore  around. 

The  following  morning,  the  weather  was 
thick  and  hazy.  They  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
land,  which  they  called  Seguin,  before  it  shut 
down.  They  made  their  course  good,  for  an 
hour  longer,  when  it  commenced  snowing, 
and  the  storm  had  now  come  in  earnest,  with 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     13! 

intense  cold.  The  east  wind  howled  and 
whistled  through  the  rigging,  while  all  hands 
were  at  work  double-reefing  the  sails.  They 
were  now  in  a  blinding  snow  storm  and  not 
sure  of  their  position,  amongst  a  large  group 
of  islands.  The  wind  was  blowing  in  tem- 
pestuous gusts,  the  cold  increasing,  and  it  was 
utterly  impossible  to  turn  to  windward. 

The  skipper's  countenance  indexed  his 
anxiety,  but  at  length  his  troubled  visage  was 
lighted  by  a  pleasing  thought.  He  hailed 
David,  saying,  "  Are  you  acquainted  here  ? " 
David's  laconic  reply  was  "Yes."  "Can  you 
or  will  you,  take  her  in  ?  "  :?  Yes."  The  con- 
fidence the  skipper  had  in  David  when  he 
said  yes,  amounted  to  more  than  a  whole 
chapter  of  most  men's  talk.  The  anxiety 
that  clouded  the  skippers  face,  now  vanished 
like  dew  before  sunshine.  The  schooner 
was  head  reaching  under  close  reefed  main 
sail  and  reefed  jib. 


132     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSOX. 

With  the  deep  sea  line,  David  got  sound- 
ings after  several  casts  of  the  lead.  He  then 
slacked  off  the  main-sheet  and  kept  her  off 
with  the  wind  on  the  quarter.  The  schooner 
was  now  driving  forward  with  rapidity,  urged 
on  by  the  gale.  The  snow  was  falling  thick 
and  fast,  with  heavy  and  angry  gusts  of  wind 
veering  to  the  eastward.  The  sheet  anchor 
was  all  ready,  with  thirty  fathoms  of  cable 
overhauled.  The  schooner  was  going  at  a 
fearful  rate,  for  the  rocky  coast  of  Maine.  If 
by  some  mishap,  now,  David  should  make  a 
mistake,  destruction  would  be  inevitable. 
Every  man  aboard  was  uneasy  with  a  painful 
sensation  of  danger,  except  David,  who  was 
calm  and  composed,  for  he  knew  he  was 
going  right.  They  could  now  hear  the  surf 
breaking  and  roaring  on  the  shore  to  leeward. 

Soon  after  sunrise,  the  wind  veered  from 
south  to  southeast.  At  eight  o'clock,  from 
southeast  to  east.  From  where  David  got 


OKI-1    KOK    MISCOMHS. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     135 

night  in  soundings,  his  course  for  Muscongus, 
was  north,  northeast.  David  uttered  the  con- 
cise expression,  "  All  right."  Nothing  could 
be  seen,  owing  to  the  blinding  snow  storm, 
when  suddenly,  as  if  by  magic,  they  were  in 
smooth  water. 

He  kept  on  for  a  mile  or  more,  with  occa- 
sionally a  glimpse  of  the  land  to  windward. 
It  was  now  still  and  smooth,  with  hardly  a 
ripple  on  the  water,  when  they  came  to 
anchor.  The  exhilerating  effect  produced  on 
these  men,  by  the  transition  from  imminent 
danger  to  absolute  security,  is  beyond  my  pen 
to  describe. 

The  roaring  of  the  sea  breaking  on  the  out 
shores  and  rocky  islands  on  the  Maine  coast 
in  heavy  weather,  is  called  by  the  fishermen, 
"the  rote."  Coming  in  from  sea,  in  thick 
weather,  and  hearing  the  rote,  the  fishermen 
can  define  their  position  and  locate  the  rocks 
or  islands  by  the  rumbling  noise  of  the  sea 


136    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

breaking  on  the  rocks.  It  was  noon  by  the 
skipper's  watch  when  they  anchored  off 
Muscongus.  Their  anxious  care  now  gave 
place  to  cheerful  and  animated  gladness. 

The  cook  prepared  an  excellent  dinner,  to 
which  all  hands  did  ample  justice.  The  tem- 
pestuous gale  that  raged  at  sea,  brought  them 
no  anxiety,  but  they  had  sympathy  for  those 
who  were  unable  to  find  a  harbor  of  refuge. 

David,  now  in  a  locality  he  knew  so  well, 
without  loss  of  time,  went  ashore  to  visit 
Pemaquid.  There  he  met  with  old  acquaint- 
ances, and  the  usual  greetings  were  ex- 
changed, questions  asked  and  answers  re- 
turned, lie  learned  that  both  the  Commodore 
and  Capt.  Ben  were  laid  at  rest  in  the  ceme- 
tery. He  could  get  no  information  about 
Jack,  as  no  one  seemed  to  know  or  have  any 
interest  in  him  or  his  destiny.  The  old  cot- 
tage had  been  torn  down,  with  hardly  a  ves- 
tige left.  The  poplar  tree  that  stood  before 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     137 

the  old  skipper's  door,  remained  standing  with 
a  grim  and  hideous  appearance.  The  un- 
welcome news  caused  gloomy  thoughts,  and 
the  melancholy  scene  where  the  cottage 
stood,  combined  with  the  disagreeable  day, 
made  David  dejected.  With  spirits  depressed, 
he  went  on  board.  Devoted  and  faithful  to 
the  memory  of  the  place  that  had  been  his 
home,  he  was  displeased  and  disheartened 
with  his  visit.  The  charms  of  imagination 
were  gone.  Yet  visions  he  retained,  with 
pleasant  thoughts  of  his  island  home. 

The  next  morning  the  wind  had  changed 
to  the  northwest,  an  indication  that  the  good 
weather  would  not  long  continue.  They 
were  under  way  and  off  for  home  at  break  of 
day.  With  David  for  a  pilot,  they  sailed 
through  the  winding  channels  of  these  islands, 
shortening  miles  of  distance.  On  one  of  these 
rocky  islands  to  windward,  they  discovered 
a  wreck,  apparently  a  schooner  of  about  a 


138    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

hundred  tons,  with  a  fisherman  in  the  near 
vicinity,  rendering  what  help  was  necessary. 
The  schooner  looked  like,  and  probably  was, 
the  same  that  they  saw  off  Seguin,  before  the 
snow  tempest.  They  gave  vent  to  many  ex- 
pressions of  sympathy  for  the  unfortunate 
schooner's  condition,  reflecting  now  that  in  all 
probability,  they  themselves,  would  have  been 
in  a  similar  situation,  without  David's  assis- 
tance. 

Without  further  incidents,  the  schooner  ar- 
rived and  anchored  off  David's  island.  In  an 
hour's  time,  his  freight  was  landed.  David 
was  full  of  gratitude  for  the  kindness  he  had 
received,  and  the  skipper  also,  was  duly 
grateful  to  David  for  his  assistance.  Then 
with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  honest  skipper's 
hand,  they  parted  with  kindly  wishes  for  each 
others  welfare.  The  skipper  went  on  board 
and  sailed  away. 

David's  dog,  that  had  been  left  in  care  of  a 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    RORERTSON.     139 

neighbor,  on  the  adjacent  island,  was  at  home 
to  meet  him,  greeting  him  with  canine  fond- 
ness. David  treated  her  with  endearment. 
She  had  manifested  her  affection  for  him  by 
her  actions,  as  plainly  as  words  could  describe 
her  joy. 

The  chilly  November  day  was  almost  gone, 
when  David  built  a  roaring  fire  in  the  open 
fireplace  in  the  cabin.  Nothing  had  been 
disturbed.  He  prepared  his  frugal  supper, 
eating  it  with  all  the  relish  of  youth  and 
health.  Then  he  sat  in  his  easy  chair  before 
the  genial  fire,  in  cheerful  meditation,  living 
over  again  the  scenes  of  the  last  two  weeks. 
He  realised. the  truth  and  beauty  of  the  grand 
old  song,  "Home,  Swreet  Home." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

ON  one  of  the  clusters  of  islands  that 
was   near  to  David's  lived  a  family 
of  more  refinement  than  the  ordinary  settlers. 
They    were     Massachusetts    born    and    bred, 
meeting   with   adverse   fortunes   while    living 

o  o 

there.  Hearing  novel  tales  of  the  natural 
advantages  of  these  islands  on  the  Maine 
coast,  they  decided  to  settle  there.  Mr.  Lane 
was  a  smart  and  stirring  man,  past  middle 
age.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  were  people  of 
education.  They  claimed  to  be  descended 
from  Scotch  nobility,  having  a  record  of  the 
family  genealogy. 

The  family  were  hardy,  strong  and  healthy, 
and  well  adapted  for  a  pioneers  life  in  a  new 
country.  His  family  of  two  boys  and  five 
girls,  came  with  him  when  he  took  up  the 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    RORERTSON.      14! 

land,  and  secured  his  claim  as  a  settler. 
Working  with  an  enthusiastic  zeal,  he  cleared 
the  land  and  built  his  log-cabin,  and  event- 
ually received  the  reward  that  honest  labor  is 
sure  to  bring. 

When  Mr.  Lane  came  he  brought  his 
library,  which  caused  his  neighbors  to  look 
on  him  with  respe£t,  and  he  was  always 
treated  by  them,  with  a  kind  of  reverance,  as 
long  as  he  lived.  Mr.  Lane  entertained  a 
favorable  opinion  of  David,  frequently  invit- 
ing him  to  his  house,  and  nothing  would  have 
pleased  him  more,  than  to  have  had  David 
for  a  son-in-law.  David  was  popular.  His 
fame  had  spread  amongst  all  the  islands,  far 
and  near,  on  the  Maine  coast.  More  than 
one  excursion  was  planned  by  the  fishermen's 
girls,  to  go  berrying  on  his  island,  (to  fish  for 
David.) 

The  girls  of  Mr.  Lane  were  skillful  at  row- 
ing a  wherry,  and  often  came  alone  for  ber- 


142     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSOX. 

ries.  David  always  gave  them  a  wide  berth, 
for  he  was  a  bashful  fellow.  After  various 
unsuccessful  attempts  to  engage  David  in 
conversation,  the  lively,  rosy-cheeked  one,  the 
girls  called  Mary,  at  last  let  her  temper  get 
the  best  of  her,  and  called  David  "a  freckled 
gawky,"  and  went  home  in  the  sulks.  Several 
days  passed,  before  Mr.  Lane's  girls  went  to 
the  island. 

When  Mary  got  over  her  ill-humor,  these 
merry  girls  went  back  on  the  island  after 
berries.  They  were  busily  engaged  picking 
berries,  and  did  not  heed  the  approach  of  a 
tempest.  A  flash  of  lightning,  followed  by  a 
heavy  clap  of  thunder,  sent  the  girls  running 
and  screaming,  to  David's  cabin  for  shelter. 
What  stratagem  and  wiles  failed  to  do,  acci- 
dent accomplished  for  the  girls,  viz.;  they  got 
into  David's  cabin. 

Now  they  determined  to  see  if  they  could 
not  get  something  out  of  him  besides  mono- 

™ 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     143 

sylablcs.  The  whole  five  of  them  began  to 
ply  him  with  questions,  all  talking  at  once. 
David  was  nearly  distracted.  He  was  no 
match  for  these  girls  who  outnumbered  him, 
five  to  one.  More  than  that,  his  retreat  was 
cut  off  by  a  sentinel  on  guard  at  the  door,  and 
escape  was  impossible.  While  the  shower 
continued,  his  cabin  was  under  petticoat 
authority.  Mary  particularly  noticed  David's 
collection  of  books.  While  looking  them 
over,  she  mentaly  planned  a  scheme  to  trap 
him,  after  his  cruise  to  Boston,  in  November. 
The  scheme,  she  put  into  execution. 

Mary  knew  that  it  was  his  usual  practice  to 
spend  his  evenings  reading  or  studying.  She 
took  from  her  father's  library  the  first  volume 
of  Cooper's  Deer  Slayer,  and  got  her  brother 
to  devise  an  errand  to  David's  and  leave  the 
book  on  his  table.  Her  brother  did  as  she 
directed,  and  after  doing  his  necessary  errand, 
went  home.  David  found  the  book  on  the 


144    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

table,  with  Mary's  name  on  the  blank  leaf, 
wondering,  without  suspe6ting,  how  it  came 
there. 

After  supper,  sitting  in  his  easy  chair  before 
his  cosy  fire,  he  began  to  read  Mary's  book. 
He  soon  became  interested,  and  as  he  read  on, 
his  interest  increased.  Nothing  short  of  an 
earthquake  would  have  taken  his  attention 
now  from  the  book.  He  finished  reading  it 
that  night,  and  the  next  day  went  to  Mr. 
Lane's  house  for  the  second  volume.  David 
bit  the  insiduous  hook  that  Mary  was  angling 
with.  Mary  saw  him  coming  and  was  flushed 
with  the  success  of  her  scheme. 

Mr.  Lane  and  his  wife  received  David  with 
a  hearty  welcome.  It  was  the  first  time  he 
had  been  there.  Mr.  Lane  said  he  and  his 
wife  were  both  honored  to  receeve  a  visit 
from  him,  and  he  would  be  pleased  to  see  him 
in  the  future.  When  David  was  ready  for 
home  the  malapert  Mary  passed  him  the 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON".     145 

book,  neatly  done  up  and  tied  with  a  string, 
with  a  mischievous  twinkle  in  her  eye.  She 
said  to  herself  "  O,  he  will  come  again,  he 
has  got  the  first  volume  of  the  Scottish  Chiefs 
in  the  bundle." 

David,  like  other  men,  had  a  sensitive  feel- 
ing for  a  pretty  girl.  He  had  now  discovered 
that  Mary  had  beautiful  eyes,  dimpled  cheeks 
and  alluring  ways,  and  was  brimming  over 
with  fun.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  he  bit  at  the 
bait?  He  went  home  with  the  pi6tu're  of 
Mary  and  her  ways,  impressed  on  his  mind. 
The  calm  and  sedate  David  was  in  love,  as 
men  in  all  ages,  have  been,  and  will  continue 
to  be  as  long  as  time  shall  last. 

Mary  was  right  in  her  prediction  and  David 
now  went  often  to  Mr.  Lane's  house.  David 
was  fascinated  by  her  ways  and  beauty,  but 
somehow,  Mary,  with  all  her  wiles  could  not 
make  him  talk  to  the  purpose.  Nevertheless, 
his  actions  implied  what  no  words  expressed. 


146    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

David  now  was  a  constant  visitor  at  Mr. 
Lane's  house,  acknowledged  and  received  as 
a  suitor  for  Mary,  and  well  appreciated  and 
valued  by  Mr.  Lane  and  his  wife. 

Mary  had  made  all  the  advances  that 
maiden  modesty  would  permit,  but  still, 
David  made  no  proposal.  She  was  deter- 
mined not  to  be  the  old  maid  of  the  family. 
David  was  equally  determined  to  acl:  consist- 
ently. He  had  not  solved  the  problem  to  his 
satisfaction.  With  precipitation  on  her  part, 
and  procrastination  on  his,  the  lovers  were  at 
cross-purposes. 

When  David  went  home,  Mary's  sisters 
would  quiz  her  about  him,  wanting  to  know 
what  he  said.  Mary's  answer  was  "None  of 
your  business.  The  freckled  clod-pated  dolt 
didn't  say  anything."  Mary's  tongue  was  re- 
markably expressive,  and  her  temper  was  not 
always  pacific. 

The    winters    David    spent    on    the    island, 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON.     147 

were  remarkable  for  their  long  continuance 
of  cold  weather.  The  present  winter  was  no 
exception.  In  February,  a  strong  bridge  of 
ice  formed,  so  that  his  neighbors  could  go 
and  come  at  pleasure.  The  consequence  was, 
that  David  had  to  entertain  more  company 
than  he  wished.  He  entertained  them  with 
hospitality,  but  invariably,  his  guests  did  the 
talking,  but  enjoyed  their  visit  none  the  less, 
for  fishermen  would  rather  hear  themselves 
talk,  when  they  have  someone  to  listen. 

The  days  came  and  went.  David  remained 
at  home.  His  solitude  which  he  loved  so  well, 
was  disturbed  by  too  much  company,  now 
that  he  was  mentally  trying  to  analyze  his 
feelings  regarding  Mary,  whom  he  credited 
with  many  virtues.  Since  their  tiff  he  hud 
been  disposed  to  blame  himself.  David's 
symptoms  plainly  indicated  his  disease,  which, 
even  a  quack  do6tor  could  diagnose,  namely,  a 
bad  attack  uf  love-sickness.  David  was  not 


148    THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

using  the  proper  remedy,  common  sense.  It 
was  true  of  him,  as  of  sage  and  fool  alike, 
that  when  common-sense  and  a  pretty  girl  are 
weighed  in  the  balances,  common  sense  gen- 
erally goes  for  naught. 

For  two  weeks,  David  had  not  seen  Mr. 
Lane  or  his  family.  When  one  day,  Mary's 
brother  made  his  appearance  with  a  billet- 
doux  for  him,  from  Mary,  stating  there  was 
to  be  a  merry-making  that  night,  and  that  she 
wished  him  to  come  and  go  with  her.  Her 
sweetly  expressed  and  neatly  written  letter 
was  answered  with  the  brief,  but  comprehen- 
sive words,  "  I  will  come." 

These  merry-makings  were  not  to  David's 
liking,  but  somehow,  when  Mary  said  "go," 
David  went.  David,  dressed  in  his  best,  and 
went  alter  Mary;  she  received  him  at  the 
door,  and  put  her  little  white  hand  in  his 
great,  rough  paw,  then  arched  her  neck  so  as 
to  put  her  handsome  lace  near  enough  for 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     149 

him  to  kiss  her.  The  brown  freckles  on  his 
face  turned  red.  He  then  did  the  best  he 
could. 

David  had  ice  creepers  on  his  feet.  When 
they  started  to  go,  it  was  necessary  for  her  to 
take  his  arm,  for  the  ice  was  slippery.  They 
trudged  merrily  along,  Mary's  tongue  running 
uninterruptedly,  except  by  Davidfs  monosyl- 
lables, as  happy  now  as  the  birds  that  sing  in 
the  spring  time,  arriving  at  the  old  fisherman's 
house,  filled  with  ecstacy. 

All  the  young  people  for  miles  around, 
were  there  or  coming.  At  that  time,  the 
fishermen's  houses  were  all  built  alike.  They 
had  a  large  brick  chimney  in  the  centre  with 
fire-places  in  each  of  the  three  rooms,  which 
were  petitioned  off  with  matched  pine  boards, 
unpainted  but  kept  scrupulously  clean  by  the 
good  housewife  and  her  girls.  The  fisher- 
men's houses  were  not  only  built,  but  fur- 
nished alike.  The  furniture  consisted  of 


150    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

high-backed,  basket-bottomed  chairs  together 
with  a  homemade  settee,  an  escritoire,  which 
they  considered  indispensable,  a  clock  with  a 
mahogany  case  reaching  from  the  floor  to 
the  ceiling,  usually  standing  in  the  front  room, 
and  a  pine  table,  also  made  at  home.  A  pole 
hung  from  the  ceiling  and  a  gun  stood  in  the 
corner.  The  fire-place  in  the  kitchen,  was  of 
extensive  dimensions,  conspicuous  with  the 
iron  crane,  pot  hooks  and  trammels.  Such 
were  their  homes.  They  were  noted  for 
honesty  and  plain  dealings,  were  without  pov- 
erty or  riches,  and  stood  on  an  absolute 
equality. 

On  this  occasion,  at  the  old  fisherman's 
house,  there  was  a  roaring  fire  in  all  the  fire- 
places. The  old  fisherman  and  his  wife  were 
in  the  front  room,  each  in  their  respe6tive 
corners  by  the  fire.  The  old  man  sat  in  his 
easy  chair,  smoking,  the  good  housewife,  in 
her  rocking  chair,  with  her  knitting  work. 


TIIK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      15! 

while  the  boys  and  girls  stood  ready  to  wel- 
come each  new  arrival.  When  David  arrived 
he,  by  particular  request  of  the  old  fisherman, 
was  ushered  into  the  front  room  and  seated 
beside  the  old  man,  who  had  a  great  regard 
for  him.  To  use  his  own  words,  he  "  set 
store  "  by  him. 

It  was  a  pleasure  to  the  old  man  ostensibly 
to  entertain  David,  but  in  reality,  himself,  by 
telling  his  stories  that  David  knew  as  well  as 
he  did,  having  heard  them  many  times 
before.  David  thought  the  old  man's  men- 
tal faculties  failing,  especially  his  memory. 
While  listening  to  a  story  about  capturing 
a  privateer  in  the  war  of  1812,  with  bal- 
last stones,  a  dozen  or  more  girls  rushed  in 
for  David  to  pay  a  forfeit.  David,  attacked 
front  and  rear,  squirmed  unsuccessfully.  The 
old  fisherman  sang  out,  "Gone  by  the  board. 
Taken  by  surprise.  Rake  'em  fore  and  aft, 
David!"  But  he  had  to  lower  his  colors  and 


Ifj2     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBETSOX. 

surrender.     Tucker,  himself,  would  have  had 
to  strike  against  such  unequal  odds. 

The  old  fisherman  said  "  it  was  not  a  fair 
fight.  Ten  to  one,  they  were  rigged  all  right, 
and  just  out  of  the  dock,  coppered,  scraped 
and  painted  from  royal-truck  to  scupper-hole, 
but  no  good  in  heavy  weather,  and  the  way 
they  fight  is  a  disgrace  to  the  continental 
navy. 

With  few  exceptions,  the  settlers  on  these 
islands,  in  days  of  yore,  were  sailors.  In  the 
Revolution  and  the  war  of  1812,  many  of 
them  served  in  the  navy  or  on  board  a  priva- 
teer, and  after  the  war,  they  became  fisher- 
men. As  long  as  they  lived,  their  language 
was  sprinkled  with  nautical  phrases.  The 
language  of  their  descendants,  now  scattered 
over  the  world,  no  matter  what  their  business, 
is  also  tinctured  with  marine  phraseology.  The 
ancient  maxim  still  holds  true,  namely:  "As 
the  old  cock  crows,  so  the  young  one  learns." 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     153 

Among  the  party,  there  was  a  foppish  young 
sailor,  dressed  in  a  new  suit,  his  head  greased 
with  pomatum,  his  white  handkerchief  scented 
with  cologne,  on  his  hands,  a  pair  of  gloves 
to  cover  up  the  stains  of  tar,  and  making  more 
trivial  talk  than  was  becoming. 

The  old  fisherman  with  his  fiddle,  struck  up 
the  musical  notes  of  "The  Flowers  of  Edin- 
burgh," the  signal  for  the  contra  dance.  The 
young  sailor  went  after  Mary,  who  was  not 
going  to  be  left  because  David  could  not 
dance.  She  kept  up  a  kind  of  flirtation  with 
the  coxcomb,  so  marked,  that  it  attracted 
notice. 

Later  on,  David  began  to  grow  jealous  and 
envious  of  the  fop,  and  felt  as  if  he  would 
like  to  wring  his  neck.  The  old  fisherman, 
like  the  rest,  noticed  the  proceedings,  and  not 
liking  Mary  to  a6t  as  she  did,  watched  a  chance 
to  say  a  few  words  to  her.  "  Mary,  I  don't 
want  to  hinder  you  from  enjoying  yourself, 


154    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

but  that  sailor  fellow  doesn't  amount  to  much. 
I  knew  him  and  his  folks.  His  grandfather 
piloted  the  English  into  Castine,  in  the  Revo- 
lutionery  War.  My  advice  is:  Don't  swap 
David  for  the  like  of  him.  I  know  'em 
both.  David's  got  an  honest  hand  and  a  heart 
as  pure  as  gold.  The  like  of  him  is  not  found 
every  day."  Mary  sullenly  pouted,  and  made 
him  no  answer,  but  when  out  of  his  hearing 
said,  rf  I  wish  the  old  fool  would  mind  his 
business." 

David  had  excellent  self-command,  yet  his 
countenance  was  strongly  expressive  of  his 
feelings.  He  was  sitting  by  himself,  in  reverie, 
when  he  was  startled  by  a  pat  on  his  shoulder 
from  the  old  fisherman,  with  the  brief  and 
wise  council,  "You  never  mind,  David,  she 
isn't  worth  the  powder."  Mary's  brothers 
were  there.  David  said  to  them,  "  I  am 
going  home.  I  wish  you  would  look  after 
Mary." 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     155 

When  Mary  found  that  David  had  gone 
home  without  a  word  to  her,  her  maidenly 
goodness  and  principle  caused  a  reaction  of  her 
feelings.  The  capricious  Mary,  now  gave 
the  cold  shoulder  to  the  dandy  sailor,  and 
went  home  with  her  brothers,  showing  ill 
humor. 

David  went  home  thoughtful  and  pained  at 
heart.  His  feelings  were  not  of  anger  to- 
wards Mary,  but  he  grieved  inwardly,  making 
no  outward  show  except  a  deep  sigh  that 
would  escape  him  now  and  then.  Lucid 
burned  the  fire  in  his  cabin.  His  dog  fawned 
but  received  no  caresses.  He  could  not  read 
or  sleep,  but  simply  sat  by  the  fire  in  serious 
contemplation,  trying  to  reason  the  thing  out 
to  his  satisfaction.  His  final  conclusion  was 
live  or  die,  he  was  done  with  Mary.  Alas, 
the  day!  It  was  a  long  time  before  he  found 
the  tranquility  of  mind  that  was  necessary  for 
his  happiness.  He  went  about  his  usual 


156    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    RORERTSON. 

vocations,  thoughtfully  and  with  a  placid 
calm,  yet  with  a  touch  of  sadness.  He  truly 
loved  the  capricious  Mary. 

It  was  not  his  nature  to  seek  fools  for  com- 
pany, or  drown  his  troubles  in  strong  drink. 
Although  his  mind  was  made  up,  still,  visions 
of  her  comely  face,  continually  haunted  him. 
The  visionary  castles  that  had  offered  him  so 
much  pleasure  to  build,  he  now  realized,  were 
a  fool's  paradise.  He  had  never  solicited  or 
courted  company,  but  now  he  avoided  all 
comers.  In  the  evening,  he  sat  staring  at  the 
blaze  that  sent  forth  a  bright  and  sparkling 
light,  prevading  the  cabin,  allowing  his 
thoughts  to  wander  whither  they  would.  If 
he  took  up  a  book  to  try  to  direcl:  his  mind 
from  his  trouble,  after  reading  pages,  he  had 
but  a  vague  idea  of  the  sense  of  the  author's 
words.  David  so  laid  his  love  of  Mary  to 
heart  that  he  lived  the  life  of  a  recluse,  now, 
in  thought  and  deed,  with  unceasing  thoughts 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     157 

of  Mary.  He  could  not  obliterate  her  from 
his  mind.  The  demon,  jealousy,  was  inflam- 
ing him,  and  jealousy  is  akin  to  love,  and  as 
long  as  jealousy  lasts,  love  remains. 

March  had  come  and  gone,  and  it  was 
springtime  with  the  mild  west  wind  in  con- 
tention with  old  Boreas  with  his  stormy,  cold 
and  snowy  north  winds  blustering  yet,  and 
loath  to  die.  The  ospry,  or  fish  hawks,  had 
come  to  re-build  their  nest  on  the  old  pine  tree 
that  stood  in  plain  sight  of  his  cabin,  where 
season  after  season  they  hatched  and  reared 
their  young.  The  red-breasted  robin  and 
chirping  sparrow,  which  he  so  gladly  wel- 
comed the  spring  before,  now,  he  scarcely 
noticed.  The  fishermen,  as  usual,  dug  their 
clams,  wondering  where  David  was,  and  why 
he  did  not  build  his  weir. 

David  was  taken  unawares,  one  day,  by 
Mary's  brother  who  handed  him  a  letter. 
David  knew  it  was  from  Mary.  The  super- 


158    THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

scription  was  in  her  hand  writing.  He  stood 
musing  for  a  time,  without  a  word,  with  the 
letter  unopened,  until  Mary's  brother  made 
some  remark  to  attra6l  his  attention.  David 
then  wrote  on  the  unopened  letter,  the  single 
word  "  Farewell,"  and  passed  it  back  to 
Mary's  brother,  and  walked  away  to  live 
again,  forlorn  and  desolate,  amongst  these 
wild  and  desert  islands. 

The  next  eccentric  thing  that  David  did, 
was  to  load  his  wherry  and  a  bateau  with  his 
belongings.  He  fastened  up  his  cabin  and 
barricaded  the  door,  then  wrote  on  the  cabin, 
the  concise  word  "gone."  But  where,  for 
how  long,  was  a  puzzling  question  to  the 
fishermen.  To  avoid  the  inquisitiveness  and 
curiosity  of  the  fishermen,  David  sailed  away 
before  sunrise  in  the  wherry,  towing  the 
bateau.  His  destination  was  a  solitary  island, 
remote  from  the  haunts  of  men,  where  he 
could  enjoy  solitude  to  his  heart's  content.  It 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     159 

was  not  far  distant  from  an  inhabited  island 
on  the  north,  but  east,  west  and  south,  there 
was  nothing  except  the  boundless  Atlantic 
ocean.  The  island  was  covered  with  ever- 
green trees,  with  a  shingle  beach  that  made 
an  excellent  boat-landing,  and  there  was  an 
abundant  supply  of  fresh  water. 

Arriving  at  the  romantic  and  rugged  isle, 
before  noonday,  he  at  once  commenced  to 
build  his  camp  in  a  sheltered  nook  near  the 
spring  and  close  to  the  boat  landing.  David's 
inventive  genius  was  of  a  high  order,  as  I 
have  said  before.  His  primitive  ideas  and 
his  originality  were  not  often  excelled.  He 
built  a  comfortable  and  cosy  camp  with  an 
old  sail,  and  covered  it  with  spruce  bows  that 
made  it  warm  when  the  weather  was  cold, 
yet  cool  and  shady  in  a  hot  summer  day.  The 
building  of  the  camp,  occupied  both  his  body 
and  mind,  and  diverted  his  attention  from  the 
affliction  that  had  sorely  troubled  him,  The 


l6o    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

days  spent  building  the  camp,  brought  him 
what  money  cannot  buy,  viz:  a  placid  and 
peaceful  contentment.  At  night,  on  a  bed  of 
balmy  boughs,  he  slept  the  undisturbed  sleep 
of  health  and  tired  nature. 

It  was  Saturday  when  he  completed  the 
camp.  Like  most  of  the  ancient  fishermen, 
he  was  observant  of  the  Sabbath,  though  not 
to  the  extent  of  the  rigid  doctrinal  Puritans 
of  those  days,  but  his  worship  was  regulated 
by  moral  sense.  He  was  a  scrupulous 
searcher  of  the  sacred  scriptures  and  a  firm 
believer  in  their  mandates.  The  Sabbath  he 
devoted  to  rest  and  tranquility,  meditating  on 
the  precepts  that  God's  Word  enjoins.  Dur- 
ing the  retired  life  which  he  led,  he  devoted 
to  himself  diligent  study,  and  he  was  learned 
and  versed  in  the  Holy  Writings.  His  pre- 
vious trouble  now  gave  place  to  quiet  and 
blissful  contentment,  and  David  once  more 
enjoyed  life. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     l6l 

His  time  was  spent  in  the  forenoon,  fishing, 
and  generally  before  the  sun  was  at  the  meri- 
dian, he  had  caught  a  wherry  load  of  fish.  It 
was  his  habitual  practice  to  neglect  nothing, 
however  trifling,  and  never  put  off  till  tomor- 
row what  ought  to  be  done  today.  His  ob- 
servance of  this  simple  rule  was  the  principal 
and  essential  cause  of  his  prosperity  in  his 
undertaking.  By  strictly  adhering  to  this 
practice,  he  succeeded  where  others  failed. 
When  he  came  in  from  fishing,  he  prepared 
and  ate  his  dinner  with  a  relish  that  the 
healthful  occupation  of  boat  fishing  is  certain 
to  guarantee,  with  an  appetite  and  digestion 
that  an  epicure  would  prize  above  rubies. 

Contrary  to  the  usual  habits  of  fishermen, 
David,  in  a  neat  and  tidy  manner,  would  put 
everything  in  its  proper  place.  He  fully 
realized  that  he  had  all  the  time  there  was, 
and  always  used  an  hour  to  do  an  hour's  labor. 
His  life  now  passed  like  the  flowing  of  a 


1 62     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSON. 

deep  and  gentle  river.  The  transitory  spring 
days  came  and  went  pleasantly,  notwithstand- 
ing his  regular  routine  of  labor.  His  work 
was  not  fatiguing  or  irksome,  and  was  with- 
out hurry  or  turmoil. 

His  solitary  life  was  uninterrupted  except 
by  a  singular  character,  known  by  fishermen, 
as  Uncle  Simon,  who  for  years  had  made  his 
appearance  during  the  summer  months,  in 
same  locality,  in  his  small  schooner,  living 
aboard,  but  fishing  in  his  wherry  and  salting 
the  fish  down  in  the  schooner's  hold.  They 
often  fished  within  hailing  distance  of  each 
other,  and  after  a  time,  the  best  of  feelings 
existed  between  them.  Uncle  Simon's  taci- 
turnity was  fully  equal  to  David's,  and  his 
company,  therefore  was  congenial. 

David  was  only  twenty,  and  Uncle  Simon 
three  score  and  eight,  but  nevertheless,  there 
was  a  great  similarity  in  their  characters. 
The  essential  difference  was,  that  Uncle 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     163 

Simon  thought,  that  owing  to  his  age  and  ex- 
perience, he  had  a  right  to  be  tenacious  of  his 
own  opinion  and  judgment,  versed  and  tried 
by  the  experience  of  so  many  years  fishing. 
Uncle  Simon  would  occasionly  manifest  this 
trait  of  his  character.  David  would  readily 
acquiesce,  never  contradicting  or  gainsaying 
his  opinion,  and  willing  that  Uncle  Simon 
should  enjoy  his  singular  notions.  Accord- 
ingly, he  regarded  David  with  fondness.  But 
David  caught  more  fish,  which  had  a  tendency 
to  take  the  conceit  out  of  Uncle  Simon. 

It  is  natural  for  those  who  are  interested  in  the  history  of  David,  to 
desire  to  know  the  meaning  of  words  that  have  been  frequently  used 
in  these  pages.  The  dialed!  employed,  was  in  use  more  than  half  a 
.century  ago,  among  the  fishermen  on  the  Maine  coast,  and  at  the 
present  time,  these  words  have  not  become  wholly  obsolete,  Refer- 
ence Dictionaries  for  the  phraseology  will  be  of  little  assistance,  for  if 
the  words  can  be  found  at  all,  they  will  often  be  defined  in  a  sense 
not  used  by  the  fishermen. 


I 


CHAPTER   XII. 

N  the  month  of  September,  between  the 
fortieth  and  fiftieth  degree  of  latitude  in 
the  north  Atlantic  Ocean,  foggy  weather  is 
not  usual.  A  fog  mull  or  mist  interspersed 
with  showers  for  ten  days  during  the  month 
rendered  the  weather  disagreeable.  The  fish 
had  struck  off,  and  David  with  Uncle  Simon 
went  about  two  miles  southerly  of  the  island 
to  catch  some.  A  glim  (a  word  used  by 
sailors  and  fishermen)  discovered  the  form  of 
a  ship  laying  by,  with  her  topsails  to  the  mast 
and  her  ensign  in  the  main  rigging.  By  invi- 
tation of  the  Captain,  David  went  on  board, 
and  the  first  question  the  former  asked  was, 
"Who  is  President  of  the  United  States?" 
David  replied,  "Martin  Van  Burin."  Is  he  a 
Whig  or  a  Democrat"  asked  the  Captain. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     165 

David  answered  "a  democrat."     "  Thank  God 

* 

the  country  is  safe "  ejaculated  the  Captain 
wtih  patriotic  zeal. 

The  appearance  of  this  Captain  indicated 
his  character,  which  was  ostentatious  and 
over-bearing.  Regarding  David  as  an  infer- 
ior and  unimportant  man,  he  addressed  him  in 
a  pretentious  manner  as  follows:  "  I  am  from 
Canton,  loaded  with  tea  and  silk,  and  bound 
for  Boston.  I  have  not  taken  an  observation 
of  the  sun  for  ten  days.  We  got  soundings 
during  the  morning  watch,  and  found  rocky 
bottom,  but  there  are  no  such  soundings  laid 
down  on  the  charts."  David  replied,  "You 
are  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Maine."  "I  know 

a  d d  sight  better  than  that "  rejoined  the 

Captain,  "As  course  and  distance  have  car- 
ried me  all  over  the  world  time  and  time  again, 
and  don't  you  undertake  to  tell  me  my  ship 
is  on  the  coast  of  Maine."  David  made  no 
reply,  but  hauled  up  his  boat  to  get  in,  when 


1 66    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

the  Captain  now  grew  less  arrogant,  asked 
how  Cape  Ann  bore  and  at  what  distance. 
Not  liking  to  have  his  veracity  questioned, 
David  answered,  "  Course  and  distance  will 
carry  you  there  if  you  know  how  to  run 
them." 

The  Captain  now  became  compliant  and  in- 
vited David  into  the  cabin.  A  Mercator  chart 
was  spread  out  upon  the  table.  With  marked 
condescension  in  his  manner  he  said,  "  If  I  am 
on  the  Maine  coast  how  did  I  get  there?" 
David  replied,  w  If  you  navigated  by  that  chart 
it  is  no  wonder  that  you  are  off  your  course, 
as  all  the  meridians  are  straight  lines  perpen- 
dicular to  the  equator  and  greatly  exaggerate 
your  course,  and  besides  you  have  not  made 
enough  allowance  for  the  Gulf  Stream." 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  surprise  of  the 
Captain  to  hear  this  explanation  from  so 
young  a  man,  whom  he  had  regarded  of  such 
little  account  and  to  find  him  so  well  versed 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON.     167 

in  nautical  science.  Now,  being  satisfied  of 
his  position,  and  with  his  conceit  well  ended, 
he  filled  the  ship  away  on  her  course  south- 
west half  west  about  one  hundred  miles  for 
Cape  Ann,  having  first  courteously  presented 
David  with  a  small  chest  of  China  tea. 

Time  wore  on  and  a  month  had  passed 
away.  The  weather  grew  boisterous  and 
stormy.  Uncle  Simon  was  preparing  to  re- 
turn home  when  an  unexpected  event  hap- 
pened. He  saw  something  conspicuous  float- 
ing at  thewindward  of  the  island,  in  which 
he  called  David's  attention.  The  latter  went 
to  the  promontory,  and  with  a  spyglass  dis- 
covered it  to  be  a  dead  whale.  Uncle  Simon 
wanted  to  make  fast  to  his  tail,  but  David 
said,  "We  can  never  tow  him  in  this  way." 
Uncle  Simon  was  very  susceptible  of  anger 
when  contradicted.  He  stood  up  in  the 
wherry  waving  his  arms  and  said,  "  If  you 
undertake  to  tow  him  head  first  you  will  have 
to  take  the  Atlantic  Ocean  along  with  him, 


1 68     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

for  his  mouth  is  big  enough  to  swallow  the 
boat."  Not  convinced,  however,  David  let 
Uncle  Simon  have  his  way  and  made  fast  to 
its  tail  with  a  fishing  rode*.  The  wind  was 
fair  and  they  both  worked  vigorously  at  the 
oars  for  over  an  hour  when  Uncle  Simon  be- 
came discouraged.  "  Now,"  said  David,  "Let 
us  try  him  head  first."  "We  might  as  well 
try  to  tow  Agamenticus*,"  said  Uncle  Simon 
in  reply,  but  reluctantly  gave  his  consent. 
David  then  made  the  rode  fast  to  the  whale 
as  near  the  head  as  possible.  The  whale 
floated  on  his  side,  his  head  with  the  big 
mouth  that  had  perplexed  and  harassed 
Uncle  Simon  was  under  water.  Whether  it 
was  open  or  shut  was  a  quandary. 

The  wind  was  fresh  to  the  southward,  with 
the    sail    on    the    wherry,    while    David    and 

*Rode,  a  rope  used  by  fishermen  to  anchor  their  boats  when  fishing 
and  made  faet  to  the  aschor  or  a  stone  called  by  them  a  killock. 

*Agamenticus  is  conspicuous  and  a  noted  land  mark  by  the  fisher- 
men. It  has  been  seen  on  ship  board  when  forty  miles  or  more  distant. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     169 

Uncle  Simon  bent  their  backs  to  the  oars 
strong  and  powerful.  They  soon  had  the  sat- 
isfaction of  seeing  the  whale  following  in  the 
wake  of  the  wherry.  After  a  hard  pull  they 
grounded  the  whale  near  David's  camp  on  the 
shingle  beach.  Obstinately,  with  a  firm  ad- 
herance  to  his  own  opinion,  Uncle  Simon 
said,  "  We  could  have  never  got  him  ashore 
if  the  wind  had  not  breezed  up."  David  made 
no  reply.  It  was  almost  night;  after  making 
the  whale  secure,  and  then  eating  their  supper, 
turned  in  to  obtain  the  needed  rest  that  tired 
nature  demanded,  fully  realizing  hard  labor 
would  be  in  order  for  the  next  ten  days. 

The  following  morning  an  assembly  of 
fishermen  had  congregated,  expressing  their 
opinion  how  many  barrels  of  oil  the  whale 
would  make.  It  became  necessary  for  Uncle 
Simon  and  David  to  employ  help  to  try  out 
the  whale.  A  kettle  was  obtained  from  a 
neighboring  island,  and  now  hard  work  and  a 


I7O    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

plenty  of  it  for  a  week  or  more,  resulting  in 
forty  barrels  of  oil — a  piece  of  good  fortune 
Uncle  Simon  called  a  God-send. 

When  the  oil  was  ready  for  shipment  they 
fortunately  found  a  freighter  and  shipped 
the  oil  and  their  fish  for  a  western  market, 
Uncle  Simon  going  in  the  freighter  as  super- 
cargo as  far  as  his  interest  and  David's  was 
concerned. 

The  weather  being  chilly  and  the  nights 
cold,  he  could  no  longer  keep  comfortable  in 
the  camp.  He  now  put  all  his  belongings  on 
board  the  pinkey,  and  sailed  early  next  morn- 
ing for  his  island  home.  The  cabin  if  it  had 
not  been  molested  would  afford  comfort  and 
warmth.  He  would  from  choice  have  spent 
the  winter  on  this  desolate  isle,  solitary  with- 
out company,  if  his  camp  would  have  pro- 
tected him  from  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather. 

He   arrived  at   his  island  home  about  mid- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     1 71 

day.  The  cabin  had  not  been  disturbed. 
Before  night  he  had  everything  in  well-regu- 
lated order,  making  a  fire  and  then  getting 
his  supper,  which  on  this  occasion  consisted 
of  a  bowl  of  gruel  for  the  reason  he  had  con- 
tracted a  severe  cold  while  trying  out  the 
whale  oil.  With  this  exception  the  cabin 
afforded  him  a  refreshment  of  spirits  with  a 
feeling  of  rest  and  quiet,  a  reverse  from 
the  bustle  and  tumult  of  the  last  fortnight, 
which  had  not  been  agreeable  to  him. 

Before  turning  in  for  the  night  he  brewed 
a  pot  of  thoroughwort  or  boneset  tea,  which 
he  drank  down,  but  it  did  him  no  good.  The 
next  morning  his  cold  was  worse.  He  kept 
about  for  three  or  four  days,  when  a  continu- 
ous fever  set  in.  He  now,  a  part  of  the  time 
was  delirous,  yet  in  his  rational  or  lucid  inter- 
vales of  reason  he  realized  his  condition.  He 
sent  his  dog  with  a  note  tied  around  her  neck 
to  Mr.  Lane.  The  dog  had  been  trained  to 


172     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSON. 

fetch  and  carry,  and  understood  what  was 
wanted  and  speedily  executed  the  errand. 
Mr.  Lane  with  his  daughter  Mary  were  soon 
at  the  cabin.  Mr.  Lane  quick  to  understand 
the  real  state  of  affairs  said,  "  Mary  you  stay 
here  while  I  and  the  boys  go  to  the  main  for 
the  do6tor.  We  shall  probably  be  back  early 
tomorrow  morning  if  by  chance  we  find  the 
doftor  at  home." 

Mary,  born  with  good  sense  and  not  want- 
ing confidence,  immediately  went  to  work  to 
make  him  gruel  and  herb  tea  and  putting 
things  in  order  generally.  David  laid  in  a 
kind  of  stupor,  apparently  insensible,  murmur- 
ing with  a  low  articulate  voice,  unintelligibly. 
She  tried  to  get  him  to  swallow  some  gruel, 
and  after  a  time  she  succeeded  by  urgent  im- 
portunity, by  using  kind  and  gentle  words. 
Mary,  quick  to  contrive  and  inventive  to 
manage,  made  ready  use  of  her  intellectual 
abilities,  and  before  the  do6tor  arrived  the  next 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     173 

morning,  had  everything  clean,  and   the  cabin 
looked  comfortable  and  cosey. 

In  due  time  Mr.  Lane  with  the  doctor  ar- 
rived at  the  cabin,  and  without  delay  he 
examined  David  and  shook  his  head  and  said, 
"  I  ought  to  have  been  called  sooner.  David 
is  a  very  sick  man,  his  fever  is  now  seated 
and  I  cannot  break  it  up  and  it  will  have  its 
course."  He  then  said  to  Mary,  "You  will 
have  to  be  the  doctor,  all  will  depend  on  you, 
keep  up  his  strength  with  nourishing  food 
that  he  can  digest."  Then  leaving  an  opiate 
and  a  tonic  with  instructions  for  their  use  he 
was  ready  for  home. 

The  west  wind  that  had  been  blowing  a 
fresh  breeze  in  the  forenoon,  at  noon  was 
a  brisk  gale.  The  boat  they  had  crossed  the 
bay  in  was  not  competent  to  go  back.  The 
doctor  said  he  must  go  if  it  were  possible,  as 
he  had  a  patient  he  must  see  that  was  danger- 
ously sick. 


1 74    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

There  lived  on  the  large  island  to  the 

leaward,  Captain  H ,  who  was  the  owner 

of  a  whale  boat.  Mr.  Lane  went  to  see  him 
in  his  boat  and  explained  to  the  Captain  the 
condition  of  affairs.  The  old  captain  called 
for  volunteers  to  man  the  whale  boat,  and  he 
soon  had  six  stout  and  vigorous  young  fisher- 
men ready  to  cross  the  bay  any  time  when 
the  old  captain  said  go.  They  were  off  in  a 
hurry  with  the  old  captain  in  charge,  dressed 
in  oil-cloth,  standing  up  steering  with  an  oar, 
while  the  six  young  fishermen  bent  their 
backs  to  the  oars  with  a  will,  jovial  with  mirth 
and  gaiety,  although  for  the  time  living  in  two 
elements,  air  and  water.  Getting  the  do6lor 
on  board  well  covered  up  in  tar-pauling,  they 
were  off  for  the  main  shore.  The  do6lor 
was  popular  with  sailors  and  was  their  prin- 
cipal physician  for  more  than  thirty  years. 

Mary's  vigilance  and  watchful  care  and 
honest  devotion  to  David's  wellfare,  obeying 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     175 

the  do6lor  to  the  letter  with  a  strict  constancy 
to  duty,  under  her  careful  nursing  he  at  last 
began  to  recover  strength.  Her  inconven- 
iences were  numerous,  but  she  overcame  all 
obstacles  with  ingenuity,  being  quick  to  see  the 
means  that  suited  the  ends. 

During  his  sickness  Uncle  Simon  returned 
to  adjust  and  settle  the  account  of  David's 
shipment  with  bills  and  papers  for  vouchers. 
David  was  delirious  and  much  against  Uncle 
Simon's  will,  he  was  obliged  to  settle  with 
Mary.  She  had  already  taken  a  dislike  to  him 
the  for  reason  of  his  obstinate  and  perverse 
ways.  Uncle  Simon  was  honest  and  Mary  was 
acute  of  mind  and  penetrating  to  look  after 
David's  interests.  Uncle  Simon's  hasty  temper 
caused  him  to  show  Mary  disrespect  because  he 
thought  she  did  not  verify  his  statements. 
Mary,  yielding  to  the  dictates  of  prudence, 
using  discretion  and  keeping  her  tongue 
under  submission  until  Uncle  Simon  had  paid 


176    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

her  the  money,  then  let  it  run  rendering  him 
no  thanks  for  his  favors.  Uncle  Simon  bade 
her  a  grouty  farewell,  then  went  on  board  his 
pinkey  and  sailed  for  home.  As  soon  as  he 
was  gone  she  muttered,  "Well  that  old  man 
is  destitute  of  good  sense,  but  I  got  out  of 
him  all  the  money  that  belonged  to  David." 

It  was  a  pleasant  still  day  as  is  sometimes  seen 
before  winter  comes  in  earnest,  and  valued 
more  for  their  scarcity,  when  David's  faculty  of 
reason  returned  to  him.  Lying  in  his  berth, 
trying  to  make  out  what  it  all  meant,  he  was 
free  from  aches  or  pains  as  his  fever  had  now 
burned  out.  He  lay  in  his  berth  in  a  quiet 
and  calm  meditation.  The  weeks  that  had 
passed  were  obviously  unintelligible  to  him. 
Mary  was  sitting  in  a  rocking  chair  sewing, 
the  fire  in  the  fire-place  burning  clearly  and 
brisk.  The  sun  was  shining  through  the 
dwarft  spruces  and  cedar  thickets,  throwing  a 
mellow  light  on  the  cabin  floor.  The  stand 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     177 

stood  near  the  head  of  his  berth  covered  with 
a  cloth  as  white  as  snow,  and  upon  it  a  small 
tray  containing  a  wine  glass  and  two  or  three 
phials  and  a  few  lemons.  The  floor  was  as 
clean  as  sand  could  make  it,  and  everything 
was  orderly  and  scrupulously  neat.  A  bunch 
of  chrysanthemums  in  a  vase  adorned  a  shelf, 
making  a  striking  contrast  between  their 
beauty  and  the  rugged  and  uneven  walls  of 
the  cabin.  His  dog  during  his  sickness  had 
lain  on  a  rug  in  front  of  his  berth,  now  sat 
looking  him  in  the  face  slowly  wagging  her 
tail,  apparently  realizing  that  her  master  had 
recovered  consciousness,  manifesting  it  by  a 
low  bark.  The  bark  of  the  dog  with  a  quick- 
ness of  apprehension  which  Mary  inherited 
innately,  hastily  brought  her  to  his  bedside. 
Although  he  looked  poor  and  emaciated, 
yet  his  eyes  brightened  and  his  visage  lighted 
up  with  pleasant  smiles  when  he  perceived  it 
was  Mary.  He  was  about  to  speak  when 


178    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

Mary  put  her  white  hand  to  his  mouth  and 
said,  "Don't  you  talk  David."  She  direftly 
got  him  some  broth,  which  she  always  had 
ready,  made  from  sea  birds,  liberally  supplied 
with  rice.  He  received  it  with  the  same 
pleasant  smile,  drinking  a  cupful  with  an  ap- 
parent relish. 

Some  of  Mr.  Lane's  family  relieved  Mary 
nights.  She  saw  her  brother  coming,  and  ran 
out  to  meet  him  to  tell  him  the  glad  tidings. 
She  had  done  her  duty  and  no  mother  could 
have  done  more  for  her  son.  The  happiness 
which  she  now  felt  sprung  from  enjoyment,  a 
benificent  disposition  to  do  good.  The  anti- 
quated maxim  has  grown  old  and  out  of  use, 
but  remains  true  nevertheless:  "Virtue  brings 
its  own  reward." 

If  there  is  a  destiny  that  shapes  our  ends, 
no  man  constitutes  his  own  history.  He  can 
only  palliate  and  conceal  it.  Every  new  day 
brought  renewed  strength  to  David.  Mary's 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     179 

watchful  care  never  relaxed  as  long  as  he  was 
an  invalid.  Her  care  for  him  during  his  dis- 
ordered indisposition  undermined  and  weak- 
ened her  affe6lion  in  a  measure.  The  famil- 
iarity which  was  brought  about  as  his  nurse, 
was  partially  the  cause  of  the  reaction  of  her 
feelings.  Every  day  he  improved  and  every 
day  she  grew  less  anxious  yet  cautious,  giving 
heed  as  she  ought,  to  her  maiden  modesty; 
still  her  heart  was  full  of  a  mixed  sensation  of 
love  and  sympathy.  She  possessed  all  the 
good  qualities,  also  one  or  two  more.  It  was 
evident-  now  that  Mary  was  no  love-sick  mai- 
den pining  and  wasting  away. 

David  now  was  fast  recovering  his  health 
and  strength,  and  had  become  so  enamored 
with  Mary  that  he  made  love  to  her  with  a 
full  intent  and  purpose  as  honest  and  as  hon- 
orable as  was  ever  offered  to  the  shrine  of  a 
goddess. 

David  like  other  men  was  not  entirely  des- 


l8o    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

titute  of  conceit,  yet  he  had  no  haughty  or 
proud  opinion  of  himself.  All  the  gratitude 
he  felt  for  her,  and  his  old  love  revived  this 
love,  for  Mary  was  genuine,  chaste,  and  faith- 
ful. Whether  he  was  now  a  sage  or  fool  or 
six  of  one  and  a  half  a  dozen  of  the  other,  the 
sequel  of  David's  adventures  or  history  show. 
Mary  with  all  her  good  qualities  was  yet 
capricious  in  mind  and  temper.  After  being 
relieved  that  night  and  going  home  she  sat  up 
late  in  meditation.  The  result  was  she  would 
not  marry  David,  and  assigned  to  himself  the 
reasons:  first,  he  was  carrot-headed,  and 
freckled  as  homely  as  a  brush  fence;  second, 
he  would  not  talk,  and  was  no  company  for 
anybody;  third,  he  was  a  hermit,  and  had 
rather  live  in  a  camp  than  a  house;  fourth,  he 
is  jealous  pated.  She  kept  on  enumerating 
his  failings  without  giving  him  any  credit  for 
his  moral  goodness,  and  with  a  burst  of  ill 
humor  went  to  bed  in  the  tantrums. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      iSl 

The  next  morning  when  her  brother  came 
home  from  David's  and  was  ready  to  ferry 
her  across,  which  had  been  his  usual  practice, 
Mary  said,  "  O  he's  well  enough,  I  shan't  go 
over  till  after  dinner,  then  I  will  go  and  cook 
him  some  victuals.  He  is  as  ravenous  as  a 
wolf.  If  he  could  get  all  he  wants  to  eat 
he  would  breed  a  famine."  David  spent  the 
forenoon  watching  for  Mary,  with  an  uneasi- 
ness of  mind,  having  a  craving  appetite,  and 
at  most  high  noon  he  began  to  cook  some  din- 
ner for  himself. 

There  had  lately  been  introduced  among 
the  island  homes  the  tin  kitchen  and  the  tin 
baker,  a  decided  improvement  over  the  Dutch 
oven  and  the  spider.  Knowing  their  value 
by  their  use  at  home,  Mary  had  sent  and 
bought  them.  David  considered  them  an  in- 
novation, so  he  baked  his  bread  on  the  spider 
and  suspended  the  fowl  from  the  mantle  be- 
fore the  fire,  and  put  the  potatoes  in  the  Dutch 
oven  to  cook  his  dinner  his  usual  way.  While 


l82     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBETSON. 

the  dinner  was  in  progress  Mary  arrived  at 
the  cabin,  and  with  an  emphatic  utterance  she 
said,  "What  are  you  doing?  why  don't  you 
use  the  baker  and  kitchen?"  David  made 
her  no  reply.  Mary  talking  to  herself,  "Well 
there  is  no  sense  in  him,  using  that  old  Dutch 
oven  and  spider."  Then  with  a  flirt,  quickly 
put  the  fowl  in  the  kitchen,  the  bread  in  the 
baker,  and  soon  had  dinner  ready. 

If  she  had  turned  the  cabin  upside  down  he 
would  have  entered  no  protest.  He  had  a 
chronic  love-sickness  and  was  suffering  a 
relapse  of  his  former  bad  state,  pressing  his 
suit  with  fondness  and  affe£tion  for  Mary  to 
be  his  wife,  in  his  homely  way.  Mary  not 
knowing  her  own  mind  would  neither  acqui- 
esce, nor  refuse  compliance  with  his  request. 

Her  actions  on  this  occasion  perplexed  and 
harassed  him.  Still  she  adhered  to  them  with 
conservative  tenacity  which  nearly  drove 
David  distracted.  After  Mary  went  home, 
she  used  the  privilege  that  lovers  are  allowed. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     183 

the  enjoyment  of  soliloquy.  "Well,  I  sup- 
pose I  have  got  to  have  the  fool,  but  he  has 
got  to  get  off  that  island  and  build  or  buy  a 
house  fit  to  live  in  where  I  can  see  somebody 
and  live  like  other  folks.  Besides  he  has  got 
to  get  a  cook  stove.  Then  I  will  heave  the 
old  Dutch  oven  and  skillet  out  of  doors,  and  he 
will  have  to  sleep  on  a  bed-stead  instead  of  a 
box  like  a  lunatic."  She  kept  on  until  she 
had  exhausted  all  her  volubility. 

David  now  once  more  with  gun  and  dog 
betook  himself  to  his  own  diversions  of 
pleasure  and  profit,  and  went  hunting  after 
minks  when  there  had  been  a  light  fall  of 
snow,  at  other  times  after  ducks  and  sea  birds, 
with  his  usual  success.  In  pleasant  days  in 
his  wherry  he  rowed  for  miles  among  these 
unfrequented  woody  islands,  as  in  days  of 
yore,  charmed  or  fascinated  still. 

When  he  returned  home  at  night,  after  pre- 
paring and  eating  his  supper,  instead  of  sit- 
ting before  his  fire  with  his  book,  he  now  in- 


184    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

variably  went  to  Mr.  Lane's  home  and  spent 
the  evening  with  his  family,  but  Mary  was  the 
only  attraction  for  him  there.  He  went,  in 
hopes  to  get  a  chance  to  press  his  suit,  but 
went  home  night  after  night  disappointed. 
Mary  neither  by  word  or  actions,  alluded  to 
the  subject  nor  allowed  him  any  opportunity, 
nevertheless  David  had  patience  and  perse- 
verance both,  to  overcome  the  difficulty.  If 
by  luck  or  chance  an  opportunity  offered  him 
to  say  a  word  of  endearment  to  her,  (using  a 
fisherman's  phrase)  she  would  snub  him  with 
a  round  turn  standing.  The  fact  was  Mary 
had  two  strings  to  her  bow. 


ONE  afternoon  David  was  sitting  in  his 
cabin  thinking  and  contemplating 
and  somewhat  dejected  withal,  caused  by 
his  blind  love  for  Mary,  never  doubting  but 
she  was  worthy  and  amiable,  when  his  dog 
barked  with  her  ears  pricked  up.  It  was  a 
stranger  that  had  come,  or  his  dog  would  not 
have  barked.  A  knock  at  the  door  also  indi- 
cated the  presence  of  some  one.  A  strange 
man  now  stepped  into  the  cabin.  "  Are  you 
David  Robertson?"  he  inquired  with  a  broad 
Scotch  accent.  "  Yes,"  was  the  concise 
answer  of  David.  "  It  a  gang  long  row  from 
the  main  land,  I  will  have  to  introduce  myself 
and  business.  I  am  a  Scotchman,  born  and 
bred  in  Scotland.  My  name  is  Holiday,  and 
my  vocation  is  a  fisherman,  and  its  many  the 
trap  I  have  set  and  weire  I  have  made  on  the 
Solway,  Glide  and  Lorn  Firth,  and  many 


I  86   THE    ROMANTIC    STOKY    OF    DAVID     ROBERTSON. 

the  muckle  fish  I  caught  in  the  lochs  of  bon- 
nie  Scotland.  I  have  heard  of  you  and  your 
weir  and  I  have  come  to  see  what  can  be 
done  here.  The  winter  lies  heavy  on  the  glen 
in  Scotland.  The  fish  are  growing  scarce,  so 
I  have  come  to  seek  my  fortune  in  the  new 
country,  where  report  says  a  poor  man  would 
do  well." 

A  social  evening  was  spent  by  Mr.  Holiday. 
He  appeared  to  be  an  enthusiastic, ^talkative 
man  and  David  thought  he  knew  what  he 
was  talking  about.  David  listened  with  in- 
terest to  hear  him  narrate  particulars  and  des- 
criptions of  taking  fish  in  Scotland.  When 
it  was  time  to  turn  in,  Mr.  Holiday  said,  "I 
would  like  to  have  you  go  with  me  tomorrow 
and  I  will  liberally  pay  for  your  trouble." 
David  answered,  "Tomorrow  is  the  Sabbath, 
(which  he  always  regarded  with  veneration). 
My  observations  of  nature  and  the  Holy  Book 
convinces  me  of  an  invisible  power:  A 
Supreme  Being  in  whom  I  believe.  There  is 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     187 

a  command  in  the  Book  to  regulate  our  moral 
conduct:  viz,  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  and 
keep  it  holy."  The  Scotchman,  stung  by  this 
unexpected  rebuke,  with  pathos  bowed  his 
head,  remarked,  "I  beg  your  pardon:  I  dinna 
ken,  Gude  preserve  us,  tomorrow  was  Sun- 
day,1' using  his  Scotch  diale6t  when  animated 
or  excited. 

David  in  this  respect  was  only  following 
the  example  of  many  of  the  fishermen  in  early 
times.  Tithing  men  were  chosen  by  the 
island  towns  for  the  special  purpose  of  hav- 
ing the  Sabbath  observed. 

David  then  said  to  Mr.  Holiday,  "  If  agree- 
able to  you,  stop  with  me.  On  Monday  I  will 
go  with  you,  and  show  you  some  localities 
where  the  outlook  is  good  to  build  weirs. 
On  Monday  a  storm  of  snow  and  wind  obliged 
them  to  stay  snug  in  the  cabin.  Towards 
night  it  stopped  snowing,  when  David  sug- 
gested to  Mr.  Holiday  to  go  with  him  to  visit 
at  Mr.  Lane's,  which  Mr.  Holiday  readily 


1 88    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

agreed  to.  The  distance  being  short,  they 
soon  arrived  at  Mr.  Lane's  house.  David  in- 
troduced Mr.  Holiday  where  they  received  a 
cordial  and  hearty  welcome.  Mr.  Holiday 
was  agreeably  entertained  by  Mr.  Lane.  Few 
could  please  or  divert  their  guests  as  well  as 
Mr.  Lane,  while  none  could  do  it  better. 

Mr.  Holiday  and  Mr.  Lane  discussed  busi- 
ness, politics  and  religion  with  mutual  satis- 
faction. David  said  little,  as  usual,  thinking 
and  drawing  his  own  conclusions,  with  now 
and  then  a  modest  and  diffident  look  at  Mary. 
Mr.  Holiday  was  observant  and  noticed  the 
sheep's  eyes  David  cast  at  Mary  and  under- 
stood what  it  meant.  He  possibly  in  his 
palmy  days  had  been  in  the  same  boat. 

When  they  were  returning  to  the  cabin  Mr. 
Holiday  broke  out  with  a  mixture  of  Scotch 
and  Gaelic,  "On,  ey !  David,  she  has  a  blue  een, 
with  dimple  cheeks  and  as  bonnie  a  lassie  as 
the  sun  ever  sheen  on,  and  Scotch  blood  in 
her  veins,  I  canna  be  mistaken,  David,  ye  will 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    OAVlD    ROBERTSON.     189 

noo  see  the  like  of  her,  except  in  the  Glens  of 
Scotland.  What  a  dower  she  will  bring  ye 
too.  A  house  full  of  bairns  that  will  keep  ye 
name  green  for  generations." 

Three  or  four  still  cold  days  succeeded  the 
snow  storm.  David  and  Mr.  Holiday  in  the 
wherry,  went  cruising  among  the  group  of 
islands  that  thickly  studded  the  eastern  coast 
of  Maine,  to  find  a  suitable  locality  to  build 
the  weirs.  The  set  of  the  tide  has  to  be 
taken  into  consideration.  After  mature 
thought  and  deliberation,  Mr.  Holiday  con- 
cluded to  build  several  on  the  western  end  of 
a  large  island,  so  as  to  get  the  benefit  of  both 
the  east  and  west  bays  of  the  Penobscot.  Mr. 
Holiday  proposed  to  David  to  join  in  partner- 
ship together,  but  David  respectfully  refused, 
and  remarked,  "Your  ways  are  not  like  mine, 
nevertheless  I  will  render  you  all  the  assis- 
tance I  can."  The  disappointed  Scotchman 
said,  "Well,  well,  you  are  a  pleasant  compan- 
ion and  an  arch  lad,  but  somewhat  scatter- 


190    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

brained,  and  not  mindful  of  what  is  best  for  you. 
?  You  get  your  whak,  and  get  na  mairV  * 
That  Dulcinea  with  the  blue  eyes  and  the  fair 
hair  has  turned  your  head,  and  you  have  gone 
"daft,"  allowing  his  quick  temper,  so  easily 
vexed  to  get  the  advantage,  with  the  next 
breath  begging  David's  pardon. 

Mr.  Lane  was  a  fine  specimen  of  an  old 
school  gentleman  now  growing  old  with  a 
gradual  failing  of  health.  His  oldest  son  whom 
he  had  not  seen  for  three  years,  who  had  been 
to  sea,  on  foreign  voyages  had  come  home  to 
see  his  parents.  He  commanded  a  fine  ship 
and  possesed  a  certain  dignity  of  manner,  be- 
sides the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
most  capable  ship  masters  belonging  to  Maine. 
"  A  good  son  maketh  a  glad  father." — a  trite 
expression,  and  I  know  of  no  better  one. 

When  his  son  stepped  into  the  house  a  tear 
of  joy  was  in  the  old  gentleman's  eye.  With 
filial  love  he  said,  "I  have  a  good  mind  to  kiss 

*Meaning  you  get  your  portion  of  food  and  get  no  more. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     19! 

you  my  son."  p<;  Well,"  he  rejoined,  "  kiss  me 
father,"  his  mother  manifesting  her  joy  by 
clasping  his  hand,  with  her  fond  eyes  of  blue 
beaming  with  admiration  for  her  noble  son. 
Mary  and  her  mother  were  all  that  were  home. 
The  other  girls  lived  in  Massachusetts  and 
were  married. 

The  cooking  of  delicate  niceties  for  him  by 
Mrs.  Lane  and  Mary  was  no  irksome  task, 
but  an  enjoyable  pleasure.  Go  where  you  will, 
roam  where  you  may,  there  are  no  victuals 
so  savory  or  relishing  so  well  as  the  cooking  of 
those  old  time  mothers.  He  said,  "  Mother 
dear,  I  have  the  best  the  world  affords  aboard 
the  ship,  but  nothing  ever  was  so  good  and 
palatable  as  your  cooking." 

He  staid  with  his  parents  at  home  only 
three  days  when  absolute  necessity  compelled 
him  to  go.  A  destiny  unutterable  by  decree 
or  fate  seemed  now  to  follow  Mr.  Lane.  His 
youngest  son,  whom  he  expected  to  be  the 
support  of  his  old  age  now  wills  to  leave  and 


192    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

go  to  sea.  His  father,  mother  and  brother 
did  all  they  could  to  discourage  him  but  of  no 
avail.  The  next  morning  they  saw  their  son, 
the  captain  with  his  brother  depart.  Sad  and 
lonely  now  was  the  old  home  with  no  children 
left  but  Mary.  Misfortune  never  comes  alone. 
Another  calamity  followed  hard.  His  wife 
was  taken  sick  and  confined  to  the  bed.  It 
seemed  to  him  there  was  nothing  left  but  hope, 
and  even  that  he  was  making  a  poor  use  of. 
David  now  in  turn  staid  with  Mr.  Lane,  look- 
ing after  his  interest,  knowing  what  ought 
to  be  done,  and  doing  more  than  was  absolute- 
ly necessary,  distinguishing  himself  more  than 
ever  by  his  profound  taciturnity. 

Mr.  Lane  took  it  for  granted  and  looked  on 
David  as  his  subsequent  son-in-law,  and  to 
serve  and  care  for  him  in  his  old  age.  The 
confidence  he  placed  in  David  was  unlimited 
and  he  merited  and  earned  it  by  his  faithful 
fidelity.  Reference  has  been  made  that  order 
was  a  leading  trading  trait  in  David's  char- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     193 

after.  Before  a  week  had  elapsed  the  general 
appearance  of  the  house  and  surroundings 
looked  more  like  a  gentleman's  residence  than 
a  rustic  farm  house. 

To  a  gentleman  of  Mr.  Lane's  refined  intel- 
lectual discernment  this  personal  quality  of 
David's  was  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Lane's 
will  and  pleasure.  He  looked  on  David  as  a 
benign  benefactor. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

MRS.  LANE,  poor  woman,  was  wast- 
ing away  with  the  fearful  and 
terrible  disease,  consumption,*  at  times  flat- 
tered by  delusive  hopes,  at  other  times  giving 
up  in  despair.  An  aunt  of  the  Lane  family, 
hale  and  hearty,  who  was  a  lady  of  uncertain 
age,  but  eventually  ten  and  forty  (for  it  is  one 
of  the  hardest  things  to  remember  an  old 
maiden  lady's  age)  with  her  nephew  of  twenty, 
who  had  come  to  live  with  Mr.  Lane  at  his 
request,  the  aunt  to  do  the  housework,  the 
nephew  to  do  the  farm  work. 

Mary's  invalid  mother  now  needed   all  the 
care  she  could  bestow.     Mary  did  all  for  her 

"The  Pulmonic  Consumption  was  the  scourge  that  laid  waste  and 
made  lonliness  and  solitude  in  many  of  the  primitive  fishermen's  homes 
on  the  coast  of  Maine,  and  caused  no  doubt  by  privations  and  hard- 
ships they  were  obliged  to  endure.  The  disease  was  the  cause  of  great 
anxiety  owing  to  its  deceitful  nature.  The  patients  themselves  were 
often  hopeful  while  their  friends  knew  that  dissolution  was  inevitable. 


THE    ROMANTIC     STOKY     OK    DAVID    ROBKRTSON.     H)^ 

mother  that  could  be  done  with  aptitude  and 
tenderness,  never  swerving  from  her  duty  or 
manifesting  any  signs  of  ill  humor.  No 
mother  had  a  more  affectionate  daughter. 

Previous  allusion  has  been  made  to  David's 
character  in  the  following  respedl,  he  had  a 
natural  impulse  to  prepare  and  have  ready 
what  was  necessary  without  making  disturb- 
ance or  trouble. 

Miss  Mary,  seeing  how  good  David  was, 
her  heart  swelled  and  yearned  towards  him, 
but  her  secret  meaning  and  real  intention  was 
to  let  him  go  if  her  scheme  did  not  miscarry. 

The  vernal  March  once  more  began  to 
thaw  the  ice  on  the  rocky  island  shores 
breaking  it  up  into  cakes,  while  the  prevalent 
north-west  winds  drove  them  southward.  The 
willow  was  now  putting  forth  its  buds  tipped 
with  soft,  feathery  down.  The  wild  untama- 
ble sea-gulls  light  on  the  shore  nearer  than  is 
their  wont  to  the  fisherman's  cottage,  while 
now  and  then  is  seen  the  aquatic  birds  of 


196    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID     ROREKTSON. 

passage  returning  north.  These  signs  are  the 
welcome  heralds  of  spring  that  make  glad  the 
hearts  of  the  humble  fishermen. 

David  now  concluded  to  build  a  weir  ex- 
tending across  the  passage  from  the  island  to 
Mr.  Lane's.  It  would  be  superior  and  of 
greater  extent  than  his  original,  and  so  con- 
structed as  to  take  the  fish  coming  and  going 
through  the  passage.  William,  Mr.  Lane's 
nephew  and  hired  man  helped  David  build 
the  weir.  It  was  of  primitive  construction 
and  not  in  conformity  with  Mr.  Holiday's 
ideas.  Mr.  Holiday  was  at  work  in  the 
vicinity  and  paid  David  a  visit  one  day,  vol- 
untarily giving  him  counsel  and  information 
in  relation  to  building  the  weir,  but  David 
built  the  weir  in  accordance  with  his  own 
judgment.  David  and  William  labored  dili- 
gently and  the  progress  corresponded  to  their 
labor.  The  last  day  of  March  the  weir  was 
complete.  Mr.  Holiday  at  that  time  had  four 
weirs  in  progress  and  none  complete.  Help 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     197 

was  scarce  and  hard  to  procure.  David  now 
made  his  word  good  and  helped  Mr.  Holiday 
execute  and  complete  his  weirs,  yet  still  liv- 
ing and  making  his  home  at  Mr.  Lane's. 

David,  during  the  cloudy  and  hazy  month 
of  April,,  assisted  Mr.  Holiday  to  complete 
his  weirs,  fulfilling  his  promise.  William 
proved  to  be  a  faithful  and  trusty  man  and 
had  an  abundance  of  time  after  his  farm  work 
was  done,  to  look  ofter  David's  weirs. 

The  first  of  the  migrating  fish  that  make 
their  appearance  are  salmon  and  alewives. 
The  salmon  were  smoked  for  market.  The 
alewives  that  were  caught  were  mostly  sold  to 
the  fishermen.  Mr.  Holiday  now  considered 
himself  under  an  obligation  to  David,  and  well 
he  might,  for  he  had  rendered  Mr.  Holiday 
valuable  service  by  hard  and  tiresome  labor. 
Nevertheless  the  Scotchman  was  conceited  in 
his  notions,  and  self-willed.  The  information 
he  had  voluntarily  imparted  to  David,  he  con- 
sidered as  equivalent  in  part  for  David's  labor. 


198    THK    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

Mr.  Holiday  built  the  weirs  in  imitation,  in 
part,  after  the  kind  in  use  in  Scotland,  with 
hooks,  traps  and  pounds,  which  David  thought 
a  part  were  superfluous  at  least.  If  David 
made  a  suggestion  to  save  labor  Mr.  Holiday 
would  answer  in  reply,  "  Ay,  ay,  my  bonnie 
laddie,  you  wait  a  bit,"  with  unbounded  self 
confidence.  David  received  an  inadequate 
compensation  for  his  services.  In  the  mean- 
time the  nebulous  month  of  April  gave  place 
to  May,  the  dreary  winter  that  brought  soli- 
tude and  gloom  on  the  lonely  isle,  now  gave 
place  to  balmy  spring. 

Mrs.  Lane  yet  with  hopeful  expectations  as 
the  days  went  by  became  weaker,  until  at 
last  she  was  reconciled  to  her  fate  with  com- 
posure. She  had  discharged  all  her  duties  to 
her  husband,  her  children  and  the  world, 
to  the  best  of  her  ability.  Early  one  beauti- 
ful May  morning,  a  short  time  after  sunrise 
her  spirit  returned  to  her  Creator.  Upon  her 
placid  features  was  a  pure  and  peaceful 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     199 

look  as  if  she  were  asleep,  taking  her  rest. 
So  quiet  and  tranquil  was  the  departure  of 
her  soul  to  God  that  her  husband  and  Mary  at 
her  bedside  hardly  knew  when  the  separation 
took  place.  Her  memory  has  been  kept 
green  by  her  children  and  her  children's  chil- 
dren. Truly  the  memory  of  the  just  is  blest, 
for  the  reason  that  she  lived  her  life  in  con- 
formity to  the  laws  of  God. 

They  laid  her  to  rest  in  the  field  near  a 
maple  tree,  when  the  western  descending 
sun  shines  on  a  tree,  it  shades  her  lonely 
grave.  Half  a  century  has  passed  and  gone. 
The  golden-rod  and  clover  blending  with 
the  grass,  bloom  over  her  grave,  and  gongs 
of  birds  on  the  branches  of  the  maple  still 
sing  her  requiem. 

Mr.  Lane  regarded  his  wife  with  excessive 
fondness.  Unhappy  and  pitiable  he  sat  in 
his  arm-chair  with  his  head  bowed  down  on 
his  breast  day  after  day,  apparently  in  a  hope- 
less state  of  despondency.  David  tried  to 


2OO    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    RORERTSOX. 

encourage  and  animate  him  with  but  poor 
success.  Now  and  then  he  would  give  utter- 
ance to  his  thoughts  with  the  brief  words, 
"  My  poor  wife,"  followed  by  a  sigh. 

One  day  Mr.  Lane  said  to  David,  "  Do  you 
think  I  will  ever  see  my  wife  again  in  the 
habitation  of  God?  I  have  not  obeyed  the 
laws  of  God  as  I  ought,"  David,  instead  of 
answering  his  question,  handed  him  the  Bible 
and  his  spectacles,  calling  his  attention  to  the 
frequent  allusions  pertaining  to  the  question 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  mentioning  chapter 
and  verse,  allowing  Mr.  Lane  to  find  them. 
After  reading  the  passages  with  intellectual 
admittance  of  their  precepts,  Mr.  Lane  found 
the  question  answered  which  he  had  asked 
David.  David  then  remarked,  "  I  hold  it  is 
deviating  from  God's  law  to  murmur,  and  not 
be  reconciled  to  your  wife's  death."  Mr. 
Lane  with  penitence  and  contrition  said,  rr  For 
the  rest  of  my  life  I  will  sacredly  try  to  live 
in  obedience  to  God's  divine  laws." 


TUE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF     DAVID    ROBERTSON.     2OJ 

Mr.  Lane,  by  divine  grace,  was  restored  to 
a  sound  state  of  mind,  his  disquieting  condi- 
tion now  giving  place  to  a  more  cheerful  man- 
ner. In  the  meantime  things  seemingly  began 
to  improve.  David  when  not  employed  in 
tending  the  weir,  devoted  himself  to  the  use- 
ful purpose  of  agriculture,  improving  on  the 
mode  of  tillage  that  had  usually  been  prac- 
ticed by  Mr.  Lane  and  his  neighbors,  and 
obtained  better  results,  lightening  the  labor  by 
exercising  his  power  of  doing  the  work  with 
ability.  With  his  good  common  sense  he 
reigned  supreme  over  Mr.  Lane's  dominion. 

As  the  spring  passed  away,  his  manage- 
ment of  the  farm  showed  wisdom  and  discre- 
tion; but  always  a6ting  in  conjunction  with 
Mr.  Lane,  who  on  his  part  was  perfectly  wil- 
ling for  David  to  do  as  he  had  a  mind  to, 
because  he  saw  that  he  had  hold  at  the  right 
end. 

David  still  continued  very  much  in  love 
with  Mary,  and  unaware  he  had  a  rival. 


2O2     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBKTSON. 

After  a  decent  interval  of  mourning  had 
elapsed,  he  once  more  pressed  his  suit  with 
courage,  in  his  homely  manner.  Mary  in  re- 
ply was  petulant,  and  called  him  a  stupid 
monomaniac,  but  David  did  not  seem  to  mind 
it,  with  a  strong  adherance  to  the  trite  maxim, 
"  A  faint  heart  never  won  a  fair  lady."  Pa- 
tience and  perseverance  were  strong  traits  of 
his  character.  As  long  as  he  did  not  see  any 
cause  of  jealousy,  she  might  taunt  him  to  her 
heart's  content.  He  never  lost  his  patience, 
and  would  bear  her  expressions  with  the  air 
of  a  martyr.  He  did  not  understand  Mary  at 
all. 

The  Jack-a-dandy  sailor  when  in  foreign 
parts  had  been  secretly  corresponding  with 
Mary;  and  when  at  home,  on  several  occasions 
paid  her  a  visit,  but  by  chance  or  design,  pre- 
sumingly  on  Mary's  part,  he  had  never  met 
David, 

These  proceedings  of  Mary's  were  a  source 
of  annoyance,  weighty  and  troublesome  to 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      203 

Mr.  Lane,  but  he  lived  in  hopes  that  Mary 
would  come  to  her  senses. 

The  sailor  was  not  without  friends  in  Mr. 
Lane's  house.  Even  the  spinster  sister  of 
Mr.  Lane  had  become  a  proselyte  of  Mary's 
sailor.  After  listening  to  his  marvelous  Mun- 
chausen  tales  of  mountains  of  sugar,  rivers  of 
rum  and  mermaids  innumerable,  all  daughters 
of  Amphritite,  and  wife  of  old  Neptune,  who 
was  father  to  the  whole  of  them. 

Mary's  sailor  was  at  home  wherever  he 
happened  to  be.  On  every  opportunity  he 
made  love  to  Mary  with  obstinacy  that  out- 
weighed reason,  being  proficient  in  vows  of 
the  same  kind  that  men  have  made  and  not 
many  have  kept,  since  the  time  that  Adam 
was  numbered  with  transgressors. 

David  in  a  happy  ignorance  how  matters 
were  proceeding  was  early  to  bed  and  early 
to  rise,  with  the  prospect  of  a  bountiful  har- 
vest in  the  near  tuture  for  his  honest  labor. 
The  weir  was  a  success  with  lucrative  results, 


204    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROP.ERTSOX. 

even  better  than  he  anticipated.  The  sequel 
proved  that  his  agricultural  labor  as  well  as 
his  fishing,  left  him  with  abundance  and 
ample  store,  owing  to  hard  work  combined 
with  good  sense  and  a  set  purpose.  More 
than  all,  whatever  he  did  he  did  well. 

The  sailor-dandy's  subtile  flattery  and  obse- 
quious manner  was  not  without  effecl:  on 
Mary.  The  stronger  the  flattery  the  greater 
the  influence. 

His  good  looks,  smooth  tongue  and  fluency 
of  cheap  talk  suited  the  fancy  of  the  capri- 
cious Mary.  She  had  her  misgivings,  never- 
theless, but  would  do  as  she  had  a  mind  to. 
Her  father  might  prate  or  preach,  but  she 
would  lie  in  the  bed  she  had  made,  and  it 
was  none  of  his  business  or  anybody's  else. 
Mary  in  vindication  of  herself  could  not  help 
making  comparisons  in  the  sailor's  favor. 

When  the  ripe  wheat  and  golden  corn  were 
harvested  there  was  abundance  and  to  spare, 
and  the  heart  of  David  was  gladdened  by  the 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     2O5 

sight.  And  when  prosperity  had  reached  the 
climax,  unbeknown  to  David,  Mary  went  off 
with  the  dandy  sailor,  with  nothing  to  his 
credit  excepting  what  he  had  on  his  back. 

Poor  Mr.  Lane!  The  children  he  had 
reared  so  carefully  and  in  whom  he  had  tried 
so  hard  to  inculcate  the  moral  duties  of  relig- 
ion and  virtue  with  faithful  instructions  in  the 
ways  of  wisdom,  had  now  all  forsaken  their 
home  to  seek  what  they  will  never  find,  the 
content  and  happiness  of  their  childhood 
days. 

Another  source  of  trouble  to  poor  Mr.  Lane 
was  what  David  would  do  when  he  told  him 
that  Mary  was  gone.  He  was  well  aware 
that  David  would  receive  the  bad  tidings 
hard,  but  was  in  hopes  he  could  comfort  and 
cheer  him.  Mr.  Lane  dreaded  to  tell  David 
of  Mary's  inconstancy,  but  he  knew  it  was 
his  duty  and  swallowed  the  bitter  pill.  After 
deliberate  reflection  he  made  known  to  David 
the  sad  story. 


206    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

David  was  confounded  with  astonishment, 
and  dumb  with  silence.  What  were  his 
thoughts  no  one  ever  knew,  for  he  never  gave 
them  utterance.  That  night  he  went  back  to 
his  cabin  followed  by  his  faithful  dog.  The 
next  day  Mr.  Lane  told  William  to  go  over 
to  see  David  and  carry  a  message,  consisting 
of  sympathetic  and  friendly  expressions 
united  with  affection,  for  him  to  come  back. 
William  went  but  could  not  find  David. 
The  cabin  door  was  fastened  and  all  was  still 
as  the  silence  of  mid-night.  William  went 
back  home  no  better  off  than  when  he  came. 

The  days  and  weeks  went  on,  and  the 
frosty  nights  of  October  were  followed  by 
chilly  November,  and  yet  Mr.  Lane  had  not 
seen  or  heard  from  David. 

On  a  pleasant  Indian  summer  day  a  fish 
freighter  anchored  off  Mr.  Lane's  fish  house 
when,  Captain  W.  went  on  shore.  Lo,  David 
was  with  him!  Mr.  Lane  seized  David  by 
the  hand,  and  holding  it,  with  a  pleasing 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    2Oj 

countenance  and  eyes  beaming  with  gladness. 

Then  and  there  with  hands  joined,  stood 
two  honest  men,  the  noblest  work  of  God, 
one  old  and  venerable,  the  other  young  and 
respectful,  and  both  marked  and  character- 
ized by  candor  and  justice. 

Mr.  Lane  with  words  that  excite  tender 
emotion  said  to  David  "  Don't  never  forsake 
me  again.  I  have  a  mental  perception  that 
old  age  advances  rapidly,  My  white  head, 
impaired  vision,  and  trembling  hand  are  sure 
signs  of  the  near  approach  of  the  grim  tyrant 
that  has  been  a  terror  so  many  years.  I 
have  now  lost  my  dread,  and  now  I  am  revived 
and  comforted  by  the  promises  in  the  Holy 
Book,  and  am  ready  to  welcome  the  harbinger 
with  hope  and  courage." 

Time  seemed  to  make  no  difference  with 
the  jolly  old  skipper.  He  now  entered  his 
protest,  saying,  "I  have  been  trying  to  per- 
suade David  to  go  this  trip  with  us.  I  am 
already  indebted  to  him  for  saving  my 


208    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

schooner,  and  probably  my  life.  It  is  now 
late  in  the  season,  and  with  David  on  board  I 
would  feel  relieved.  In  bad  weather  I  can 
depend  on  him.  I  shall  be  back  in  ten  or 
twelve  days  if  God  wills."  Of  course  David 
could  do  as  he  pleased  but  as  yet  he  had  not 
said  a  word. 

Mr.  Lane  yielded  to  the  skipper's  earnest 
entreaty,  and  David  went  once  more  on  board 
as  a  fisherman,  after  a  promise  to  Mr.  Lane 
that  he  would  come  back  and  report.  As 
many  hands  make  light  work  they  soon 
boated  the  fish  and  surplus  of  the  farm  pro- 
ductions on  board  the  freighter. 

Mr.  Holiday  was  on  board  with  his  fish  and 
the  freighter  was  deep  as  a  loaded  sand-barge. 
The  jocose  merriment  of  the  fishermen  with 
the  talkative  Scotchman  was  good  medicine 
for  David,  and  he  had  to  take  it  in  large 
doses,  nauseous  as  it  was  to  him  and  it  did 
him  good,  because  he  could  not  think  on 
account  of  their  frivolous  talk. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    209 

It  had  been  a  calm  day,  what  the  fishermen 
call  a  weather  breeder.  At  night  a  gentle 
mild  air  breezed  up  to  the  morth-east,  and 
this  being  a  fair  wind  they  were  off  and  away 
for  Boston  the  next  morning  at  eight  o'clock. 
Monhegan  was  beaft  the  beam,  the  wind 
north-east  and  increasing.  "What  do  you 
think?  She  will  be  up  with  Cape  Ann 
before  six  o'clock  at  this  rate?"  The  mate 
replied,  "  I  think  we  had  better  let  her  go 
until  noon,  then  if  it  comes  on  too  tough  or 
shuts  down  thick  David  can  make  a  harbor 
long  as  as  we  can  show  a  rag  of  canvas." 
All  went  well,  and  early  next  morning  they 
arrived  in  Boston  under  double  reefed  sails. 
For  a  week  after  a  heavy  north-east  gale 
raged  at  sea. 

NOTE  The  heavy  gales  commence  to  the  leeward  and  it  is  often 
the  case  that  moderate  north-east  winds  off  the  coast  of  Maine  will  be 
blowing  a  brisk  gale  off  Cape  Hatteras.  Hence  a  vessel  sailing 
south-west  with  a  north-east  wind  is  sailing  into  the  gale. 

Historical  records  make  allusions  to  this  remarkable  gale.  Naviga- 
tion suffered  on  the  Maine  coast  severely  and  it  was  the  heaviest 
gale  within  the  memory  of  the  old  fishermen.  This  remarkable  N.  E. 
gale  happened  in  December,  A.  D.  1839.  Of  sixty  sail  that  anchored 
in  Cape  Ann  harbor  for  shelter  fifty-five  were  wrecked. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

DAVID'S  rustic  manner  had  improved. 
He  did  not  attract  notice  as  on  his 
former  visit,  and  no  longer  gazed  with  aston- 
ishment like  an  awkward  country  bumpkin. 
The  young  Arabs  no  longer  artfully  practiced 
their  tricks  nor  made  him  a  butt  of  ridicule. 
Even  the  Courtesans  and  Jews  let  him  pass 
without  remarks  or  observation. 

In  wandering  around  the  docks  David's 
close  attention  was  drawn  to  a  small  schooner 
with  a  sign  on  her  foremast,  "  For  Sale,"  and 
he  carefully  looked  her  over.  She  was  well 
adapted  for  a  fisherman,  with  good  accommo- 
dations, good  sails  and  well  fitted  generally, 
and  as  a  whole  pleased  his  fancy. 

The  wharfinger  who  had  the  care  of  her, 
remarked  to  David,  "  You  can  buy  her  cheap, 
the  owner  has  no  use  for  her.  He  has  to  pay 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    211 

wharfage  and  also  me  for  taking  care  of  her." 
David  asked  the  wharfinger  the  price,  and  in 
reply  the  wharfinger  answered:  "Three  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  that  is  less  than  half  what 
she  is  worth."  [David  replied,  "I  will  give  two 
hundred  dollars,  if  I  can  be  guaranteed  her 
bottom  is  in  good  condition." 

The  wharfinger  with  a  show  of  anger, 
mixed  with  an  apparent  disgust  said,  "  If  he 
gives  her  away  it  will  be  to  some  of  his  friends 
not  to  you.  If  that  is  your  best  offer  you 
will  never  own  the  boat."  He  asked  David's 
name  and  address,  then  with  the  usual  compli- 
ments each  went  his  way.  The  next  day  the 
owner  of  the  schooner  accepted  David's  offer, 
and  David  thus  became  the  owner  of  the 
schooner,  Rover. 

There  was  a  poor  apology  for  a  man  who 
had  been  hanging  around  the  skipper  of  the 
fisherman  for  two  or  three  days  without 
money  or  decent  clothes,  soliciting  a  passage 
in  the  freighter.  He  told  a  deplorable  story 


212    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OP    DAVID    ROBERTSOV. 

of  ruin  caused  by  the  demon  rum  saying,  "  I 
do  not  want  to  stay  here  as  I  am  so  passion- 
ately addicted  to  drinking  spirituous  liquors 
that  I  have  become  a  habitual  drunkard.  My 
only  chance  left  is  to  go  where  I  cannot 
obtain  it."  His  honest  confession  caused 
David  to  look  on  the  poor  inebriate  with  com- 
passion. In  a  pleasing  manner  David  said  to 
him,  "Will  you  go  with  me?"  "Yes,"  he 
replied,  and  then  went  with  David  where  his 
schooner  lay.  While  on  the  way  David  pur- 
chased his  outfits  to  last  him  home,  and  when 
they  were  on  board  the  schooner  David  said 
to  the  man,  "Are  you  willing  to  go  with  me 
in  the  schooner?"  r?Yes,  where  you  go  1 
will  go  gladly  if  you  will  have  me." 

David  with  trusty  confidence  in  the  man, 
handed  him  a  ten  dollar  note  to  go  and  get 
some  necessary  clothing  for  himself.  The 
man  with  genuine  surprise  and  with  a  tear  in 
his  eye,  said,  "There  is  not  another  man  in 
Boston  who  would  trust  me  with  money  and 


THE    ROVER. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      215 

you  with  your  kind  heart  would  not  if  you 
knew  me  as  well  as  I  know  myself."  He 
went  out  and  was  back  in  a  short  time  with  a 
pair  of  cheap  boots,  a  pair  of  trousers  and  a 
woolen  shirt.  He  gave  David  back  the  resi- 
due of  the  money  with  the  remark,  "This  is 
the  first  time  for  ten  years  when  I  was  sober, 
with  money  in  my  pocket  that  I  passed  a  bar- 
room without  a  drink  of  liquor." 

With  the  stores  aboard  they  dropped  the 
Rover  off  the  point  of  flats  and  let  her  swing 
to  her  anchors.  David  now  asked  the  man 
his  name.  In  reply  he  said,  "You  may  call 
me  Smith,  but  that  is  not  my  name,  for  I  am 
ashamed  to  tell  an  honest  man  my  name." 
"  Do  you  obje6t  to  stop  aboard  alone  and  look 
after  the  schooner,  Smith  ?  "  "  No,  for  a  long 
time  I  have  slept  on  a  brick  floor  in  an  engine 
room.  I  am  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  sleep 
in  a  berth."  David  then  told  Smith  he  could 
set  him  ashore,  and  said,  "Tomorrow  is  the 


21 6     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBKTSON. 

Sabbath,  you  come  to  the  slip  at  Long  Wharf 
in  the  dingy  after  breakfast." 

When  David  landed  he  dire6tly  went  on 
board  the  freighter  where  he  was  hailed  by 
the  jolly  skipper  with,  "Well,  I  am  glad  to 
see  you,  I  could  not  think  for  the  life  of  me 
what  had  become  of  you.  There  are  no  land 
sharks  hereabouts  that  know  enough  to  get 
you  foul.  When  you  went  off  you  had  old 
Hard  Up  in  tow.  What  did  you  do  with 
him?  He  is  no  good  only  for  eel  bait." 
David  without  reply  to  the  skipper's  oratory 
inquired  if  he  was  ready  to  go  home.  '*  Yes," 
rejoined  the  skipper,  all  ready  these  two  days, 
waiting  for  the  weather  to  clear  up  and  the 
sea  to  smooth  down.  "  What  do  you  think, 
David,  shall  we  have  a  clear  day  tomorrow  ?  " 
"  It  is  the  Lord's  day  tomorrow,  skipper," 
David  replied,  "and  I  hope  you  will  wait 
until  Monday.  I  am  not  going  home  with 
you  in  the  freighter."  :?  What"  exclaimed 
the  skipper,  struck  hard  aback.  "r  What  will 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    21 7 

I  say  to  Mr.  Lane?  I,  myself  heard  you  tell 
Mr.  Lane  that  you  would  come  back  with  us." 

At  this,  mate,  cook,  Scotchman  and  all 
chimed  in  with  the  skipper  with  their  protest, 
"  David  falsify  his  word,"  they  muttered. 
"That  is  preposterous."  David  said,  "  I  shall 
try  not  to  break  my  word  with  Mr.  Lane.  I 
told  him  when  I  left  I  would  come  back  and 
report."  The  skipper  knew  by  experience 
that  it  would  be  of  no  use  to  pump  David,  so 
the  enigma  remained  unsolved  when  all 
turned  in  for  the  night. 

The  Sunday  morning  that  followed  was 
clear,  calm  and  cold.  After  breakfast  David 
went  to  Long  Wharf.  His  man  was  there 
waiting,  looking  miserable  with  his  bloated 
face.  His  blood-shot  eyes  and  trembling 
hands  quivering  involuntarily  like  an  aspen 
leaf,  all  betokening  his  misery.  Leaving  the 
dingy  in  care  of  the  man  that  had  charge  of 
the  slip,  David  bade  Smith  go  with  him. 
Smith  would  have  walked  behind  David  like 


2l8    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

a  menial,  but  David  insisted  on  his  walking 
by  his  side.  David  was  devoting  an  honest 
zeal  in  a  good  cause. 

They  leisurely  walked  on  towards  the  north 
end  of  the  city,  and  soon  arrived  in  the  local- 
ity that  had  been  the  haunts  of  Smith  for  a 
decade  of  years.  Here  was  where  the  old 
topers  congregated  then  as  well  as  now,  and 
none  was  more  familiarly  known  there  than 
Smith.  As  they  passed  on  they  were  saluted 
by  a  sot  who  had  arrived  beyond  the  bounds  of 
decency,  "  I  say  'Hardup,'  where  did  you  pick 
up  that  psalm-singing  hypocrite?  Will  he 
stand  treat  if  I  go  along  with  him?"  The 
sweet  notes  of  the  chime  bells  were  agreea- 
ble melody  in  David's  ears,  and  in  his  imagi- 
nation they  seemed  to  say,  "  Peace  on  earth, 
good  will  to  men,"  and  impressed  him  with 
awe  and  veneration  to  God  and  his  laws.  "  I 
am  going  to  Father  Taylor's  Church,  and 
want  you  to  go  with  me  Smith,  and  show  me 
where  the  church  is,  and  go  with  me."  Smith 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    219 

said,  "  Father  Taylor  has  often-times  tried 
to  get  me  to  go  to  meeting,  but  I  would  not 
go.  I  will  go  with  you,  but  I  should  think 
you  would  be  ashamed  to  go  to  church  with 
me."  When  David  and  Smith  went  into  the 
church  Father  Taylor  exclaimed, 

"  Hallelujah  !  Here  is  the  old  Misery  hi  port  with  the  old  ship  of 
Zion's  pilot  aboard.  The  Misery  has  been  sailing  under  counterfeit 
colors  for  ten  years,  and  now  wants  overhauling  from  royal  truck  to 
scupper-hole,  and  her  bottom  calked  and  coppered  before  she  is  sea- 
worthy. She  ain't  fit  to  sail  in  company  with  the  old  Zion,  who 
always  lands  her  cargo  safe.  Brother  Sailor,  don't  be  afraid  to  ship 
in  the  old  Zion.  She  will  carry  you  safe  through  all  your  troubles  and 
tribulations.  She  is  staunch  and  sound  as  a  pump  bolt.  When 
driven  by  storms  and  lashed  by  tempests  she  will  land  you  at  last  in  a 
snug  harbor,  with  all  those  that  sail  by  her  chart  and  steer  by  her 
compass.  Now  brother  sailor  let  me  persuade  and  advise  you.  In 
your  watch  below  read  in  your  Bible  the  fifty-first  psalm.  When  you 
are  beset  by  storms,  when  the  tempestuous  gales  rage,  and  the  nights 
are  dark  and  drear,  and  you  have  to  stand  to  the  deck  in  the  cold 
rain,  remember  the  mandates  that  God  enjoined.  If  by  chance  you 
escape  a  watery  grave,  or  are  buried  in  the  ocean,  while  life  lasts  ever 
remember  God's  ordinance  and  keep  his  command.  If  you  comply 
with  God's  precepts  you  are  certain  to  arrive  at  a  peaceful  haven  at 
last,  where  the  poor  storm-beaten  sailor  will  obtain  eternal  rest." 

The  dejected  appearance  of  poor  Smith 
was  pitiable  indeed.  The  tears  fell  from  his 
eyes,  and  many  an  eye  was  moist  that  heard 


220    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

the  venerable  man.  Father  Taylor*,  with  his 
arms  extended,  then  pronounced  a  heartfelt 
benediction  and  dismissed  his  congregation  of 
men  that  follow  the  sea.  Mid  the  cold  and 
cheerless  hours  of  night  when  the  poor  de- 
luded sailor  has  to  stand  his  watch  of  eight 
hours  on  deck,  the  sympathetic  expressions  of 
Father  Taylor  would  often  comfort  him  with 
the  hope  of  a  future  reward.  David  and 
Smith  left  the  church  together  and  leisurely 
walked  side  by  side  without  exchange  of  sen- 
timent, each  in  silent  communion  with  his 
own  thoughts,  to  the  place  where  they  had 
left  the  dingy  and  separated,  Smith  to  go  on 
board  the  Rover  while  David  went  back  on 
board  the  freighter. 

The  heavy  north-east  gale  that  had  raged 

*Rev.  Edward  T.  Taylor,  born  in  1793,  died  1871.  He  was  a  Bethel 
minister  in  Boston  from  1830  until  his  death.  "  Father  Taylor,"  as* 
he  was  called  mingled  nautical  terms  and  figures  in  his  discourses, 
and  by  his  wit,  pathos  and  magnetism  controlled  the  minds  and 
wrought  upon  the  feelings  of  his  hearers  in  a  remarkable  degree. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    221 

at  sea  for  the  week  past  had  at  last  become 
pacific,  but  as  yet  the  weather  remained  un- 
settled. Early  Monday  morning  the  skipper 
filled  away,  leaving  David  on  the  pier,  who 
cast  off  his  fasts.  With  a  blithesome  manner 
unusual  to  him  he  wished  the  skipper  a  pleas- 
ant passage.  The  good  old  skipper  was 
seriously  troubled  to  leave  David  behind,  but 
could  give  no  satisfactory  reason  or  motive 
for  David's  actions.  The  Scotchman,  who 
had  his  oar  in  on  all  occasions  said,  "That  is 
a  short  story  and  soon  told.  David  will  never 
come  back,  and  many  a  good  man  besides 
David  has  gone  wrong  when  jilted  by  a  tri- 
fling young  woman."  The  skipper  with  a 
burst  of  passion  at  the  insinuation  of  the 
Scotchman  said,  "  When  David  goes  wrong 
you  will  see  the  dead  ducks  flying  over  the 
dry  lochs  in  Scotland." 

A  short  time  intervened  before  David  was 
underway  and  following  in  the  wake  of  the 
freighter.  There  were  light  airs  and  calms 


222    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

with  passing  clouds  for  twenty-four  hours 
after  leaving  Boston.  The  next  morning  they 
were  off  the  Isle  of  Shoales.  The  light  winds 
commenced  to  breeze  up  with  heavy  clouds 
rolling  up  in  the  south-east  and  a  bright  glim 
low  down  in  the  western  horizon.  The  sea  had 
gradually  changed  color  from  a  blue  to  a  gray 
black.  These  signs  David  well  knew  meant 
that  a  snow  storm  was  brewing  and  concluded 
to  make  a  harbor  before  night  if  possible. 

David,  who  had  kept  astern  of  the  freighter 
by  intention  and  for  a  purpose,  now  properly 
trimmed  his  sails  and  was  soon  along  side  of 
the  freighter  to  leaward  with  Smith  at  the 
helm,  while  David  kept  himself  from  being 
seen  by  those  on  board  the  freighter. 

The  old  skipper  on  board  the  freighter 
hailed  Smith  with  his  vociferous  voice, 
"Schooner  ahoy!"  Smith  answering  dictated 
by  David,  "Hallo!  Where  you  bound?" 
Smith  replied,  "  Going  to  try  to  make  a  harbor 
in  Portland.  If  it  shuts  down  to  snow  before 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     223 

we  get  there  we  shall  go  in  to  Wood  Island." 
David  let  the  Rover  range  ahead  of  the 
freighter  a  mile  or  more,  and  then  slacked  off 
his  fore  sheet  so  the  old  skipper  could  keep 
in  company. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  wind  increased,  and 
both  schooners  had  all  the  wind  they  wanted. 
David  double  reefed  the  mainsail.  The  old 
skipper  carried  his  three  lower  sails  for  an 
hour  longer  to  try  to  keep  up  with  David, 
when  he  had  to  douse,  and  put  two  reefs  in 
one,  fore  and  aft.  David  now  took  in  his 
foresail  so  as  to  keep  in  company.  At  three 
o'clock  it  began  to  snow  but  David  had  the 
bearings  of  Cape  Elizabeth  when  it  shut  down, 
now  with  the  good  harbor  of  Portland  under 
their  lea  where  they  safely  anchored  before 
dark. 

On  that  memorable  stormy,  dismal  'Decem- 
ber night  tradition  and  history  both  say  the 
snow  fell  between  sunset  and  sunrise  eighteen 
inches.  The  next  night  the  wind  came  off  to 


224    TIIE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

the  west-north-west.  The  weather  was  clear, 
and  the  quicksilver  in  the  thermometer  stood 
at  zero  when  David  got  under  way  for  home, 
leaving  the  skipper  to  come  when  he  got 
ready. 

David  came  to  anchor  off  Mr.  Lane's  house 
a  little  after  sunrise  the  next  morning.  The 
freighter  rounded  to  close  aboard  David's 
schooner  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  with 
evident  surprise  the  skipper  said,  "  That  is  our 
company-keeper.  I  wonder  what  she  is  a 
doing  here?  As  I  am  a  sinner  there  is  cOld 
Hardup,'  if  I  am  in  my  senses.  The  skipper 
with  astonishment  went  ashore  where  he  was 
met  by  Mr.  Lane  and  David,  with  extended 
hands  to  greet  him.  David  remarked  with  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye,  "  I  came  a  little  ahead  of 
you  skipper  to  report." 

The  skipper  after  discharging  his  freight 
took  leave  of  Mr.  Lane  and  David  with 
expressions  of  sincere  affe6tion  and  good  will 
which  was  returned  by  them,  with  a  hearty 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     225 

shake  of  hands,  left  them  and  sailed  away  to 
his  eastern  home. 

NOTE.  The  fishermen  a  half  a  century  ago  would  greet  each  other 
with  a  cordial  and  warm  reception  when  they  met,  and  with  a  corres- 
ponding feeling  of  regret  when  they  parted.  The  world  is  morally 
better  because  these  men  lived  and  flourished.  As  like  begets  like, 
and  as  their  descendants  are  scattered  over  a  wide  domain  and  receive 
innate  their  traits  of  character  from  their  progenitors,  good  results 
came  thereof. 

Between  the  years  of  1835  to  1845  so  entirely  engrossed  were  the 
inhabitants  of  these  islands  and  their  environs  in  shipbuilding  that 
they  neglecled  their  agriculture  and  fishing  interests.  In  most  everv 
creek  from  Bangor  to  Thomaston  were  being  built  coasters,  brigs  and 
ships,  and  to  a  limited  extent  from  Quoddy  to  Kittery.  These  ves- 
sels were  extensively  manned  by  fishermen,  so  while  navigation  and 
shipbuilding  flourished,  agriculture  and  fishing  were  abandoned  by  the 
young  people.  Fisherman  and  sailor  are  synomymous  terms  in  a 
measure,  for  it  was  not  of  rare  occurance  that  the  young  skipper  of  a 
fisherman  at  middle  age  became  a  ship  master,  while  the  deep  water 
young  sailor  who  had  merited  the  distinction  of  a  ship  master  in  the 
regular  order  of  progression  would  be  of  but  little  use  and  no  orna- 
ment on  board  a  fisherman. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MR.  LANE'S  oldest  son  had  become 
a  man  of  influence.  While  David 
had  been  absent  he  paid  his  father  a  visit  and 
persuaded  him  to  move  off  the  island.  The 
Captain  (  his  son  )  was  the  owner  of  a  large 
estate  situated  where  all  the  necessaries  of  life 
could  easily  be  obtained.  A  vessel  was  hourly 
expected  to  transport  him  and  his  chattels. 
The  greatest  drawback  was  the  transportation 
of  his  hay  and  getting  his  flocks  and  herds  on 
board  the  vessel.  David  offered  a  suggestion 
for  Mr.  Lane's  consideration,  which  was  to 
have  the  stock  wintered  on  the  island.  "  It 
would  save  moving  the  hay,  and  I  will  see 
they  are  well  cared  for."  "That  will  never 
do  David,"  replied  Mr.  Lane,  "  I  want  you  to 
go  with  me." 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSOtt.    227 

The  Captain  was  mindful  of  the  strong 
attachment  his  father  had  for  David.  With 
ample  means  at  his  command,  and  having  no 
wife  to  draw  or  divide  his  affections  they  all 
centered  in  his  family,  particularly  his  father. 
It  was  a  gratification  to  the  son  to  please  his 
father,  no  matter  at  what  cost.*  The  induce- 
ment the  Captain  offered  David  to  go  with 
his  father  was  that  David  should  be  a  joint 
heir  with  his  brother  and  sisters  at  his  death. 

David  respectfully  declined.  His  singular 
way  was  that  of  but  a  small  part  of  mankind, 
and  besides  he  had  a  little  secret  which  he 
had  kept  well  protected.  He  did  not  like  the 
old  maiden  sister  of  Mr.  Lane's. 

After  a  time  the  vessel  arrived  that  was  to 
convey  Mr.  Lane  and  his  people  with  their 
movables.  Mr.  Lane  had  decided  to  leave 
the  stock  in  David's  care.  He  felt  downcast 
and  dejected  to  leave  the  place  that  had  been 

*The   Captain   died   wealthy   and   his    money   established   the   basis  of   one  of 
the  institutions  of  education  in  New  England. 


228   THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF   DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

his  home  for  years.  The  venerable  man  who 
was  once  strong-minded  manifested  signs  of 
dotage  when  he  shook  hands  with  David. 
He  then  said,  rflf  our  tenancy  of  life  con- 
tinues may  we  perchance  meet  again  and 
finally  meet  in  the  celestial  dwelling  where 
dis-uniting  can  never  exist,"  and  then  with 
heartfelt  sorrow  went  his  way. 

David  would  have  desired  to  spend  the 
winter  in  his  cabin  in  privacy.  He  had  an  in- 
genious scheme  in  contemplation,  which  was 
that  he  could  take  fish  in  nets  and  do  away 
with  the  hard  labor  which  the  building  of 
weirs  necessitated.  He  enjoyed  himself  at  all 
times  best  alone,  especially  when  he  was 
mentally  at  work  on  some  project.  Hence 
the  least  company  he  had  the  better  he  was 
pleased. 

An  old  and  somewhat  eccentric  fisherman 
with  Mr.  Holiday  for  a  companion  would 
now  and  then  pay  a  visit  to  David  in  pleasant 
days,  but  in  bad  weather  he  was  well  rid  of 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBETSOX.       229 

them  for  the  reason  that  it  was  too  much  like 
work  to  row  the  wherry  to  and  from  his 
island.  When  there  they  could  sit  around 
his  open  fire  telling  stories  alternately ;  the 
Scotchman  relating  the  wonderful  heroic 
deeds  of  renown  of  the  Highland  Chieftain 
in  Scotland,  while  the  fisherman's  stories 
related  to  Maine  localities,  each  in  turn 
listening  with  pretended  credulity.  As  a 
general  thing  the  stories  they  told  were  with- 
out merit  or  worth,  nevertheless  it  was  a 
pleasing  satisfaction  to  each  of  them  to  hear 
themselves  talk. 

When  the  old  fisherman's  turn  was  in  order 
he  said  to  the  Scotchman,  "Did  you  ever 
hear  the  story  of  the  twin  brothers,  Mike  and 
Jim?"  *  No,  but  I  have  heard— "  ''Belay  that 
Mr.  Holiday,  it's  my  turn  you  know,  Ha, — I 
shall  have  to  tell  it  to  you.  You  are  the  only 
man  on  the  Maine  coast  that  has'nt  heard  it. 

**  Jim  and  Mike  were  twin  brothers  who  were  owners  of  a  sloop  and 
femnd  employment  carrying  cord  worxl  to  Boston.  They  were  captain, 
cook  and  all  hands  in  torn.  And  as  merry  fellows  as  ever  lived,  and 


230    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    RORERTSON. 

often-times  played  their  jokes  on  one  another.  It  Mike  played  a  joke 
on  Jim,  he  would  bear  it  with  a  facetious  merriment,  and  then  hide 
his  time  and  pay  Mike  the  principal  and  interest. 

"  They  were  on  the  passage  home  from  Boston  in  the  old  sloop  on 
a  pleasant  summer  night.  It  was  Mike's  eight  hours  on  deck.  At 
twelve  o'clock  he  called  Jim.  Mike  went  below  and  turned  in,  and 
in  five  minutes  was  fast  asleep.  Jim  went  below  and  set  the  watch 
ahead  to  four  o'clock  and  sung  out:  'Four  o'clock  brother  Mike,  it's 
your  watch  on  deck.'  Mike  turned  out  and  said,  'Brother  Jim,  I 
never  was  so  sleepy  in  my  life.'  but  went  on  deck  and  took  the  tiller, 
while  Jim  turned  in  for  another  snooze. 

"At  five  o'clock  there  were  no  signs  of  daylight,  six  o'clock  and  still 
no  daylight.  Mike  was  awe-stricken  with  terror  and  went  down  and 
sung  out  to  Jim,  'Turn  out,  Brother  Jim,  there's  going  to  be  another 
dark  day.'  "* 

The  Rover  was  hauled  up  in  a  sheltered 
nook  or  cove  almost  hidden  from  view  by 
stately  trees,  where  she  lay  secure  against  the 
turbulent  and  tempestuous  storms  that  pre- 
vail in  winter  on  the  coast  of  Maine.  Smith, 
who  intended  to  winter  in  the  cuddy  of  the 
schooner  now  became  a  tenant  of  Mr.  Lane's 
and  lived  in  his  house  subservient  to  David 
and  took  care  of  the  barn  and  found  employ- 

*The  remarkable  dark  day  which  astonished  and  amazed  the 
settlers,  was  a  theme  for  conversation  among  the  fishermen  for  many 
years  and  used  by  them  in  a  chronological  manner  to  mark  events  as 
before  or  after  the  dark  day. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      23 1 

ment  cutting  wood  for  a  dollar  a  cord,  the 
money  being  paid  him  every  Saturday  night. 
The  monotony  of  his  secluded  life  was  hardly 
congenial,  but  he  willingly  bore  the  brunt, 
and  was  proud  of  himself  to  be  a  man  again. 

He  was  having  a  hard  fight  against  the 
demon  rum.  which  had  brought  the  curse, 
disgrace  and  poverty  upon  him.  It  took 
years  before  strong  drink  had  the  entire  con- 
trol of  him,  and  now  it  would  take  years  to 
break  the  longing  desire. 

Whether  his  resolutions  will  be  adequate 
to  restrain  his  appetite,  time  alone  will  tell, 
in  the  meantime  Smith  adhered  to  his  deter- 
mination with  constancy  and  courage. 

The  winter  so  far  had  been  clear  from  ice. 
David  was  industriously  employed  knitting 
salmon  and  herring  nets,  to  form  a  seine  with 
a  pound  when  they  were  set.  Sitting  by  the 
window  in  his  cabin  one  cold,  raw  day  at 
work  on  his  nets,  he  saw  through  the  opening 
in  the  clump  of  dwarf  trees,  a  boat  with  three 


232    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

men  apparently  trying  to  land  on  Mr.  Lane's 
island.  With  his  spy  glass  he  recognized 
them  as  his  neighbors.  The  boat  was  head- 
ing for  the  island,  but  was  making  use  of  an 
angle  of  ninety  degrees  for  a  course  to  get 
there.  They  were  in  imminent  danger  of 
being  blown  to  sea.  David  without  loss  of 
time  started  in  his  wherry.  But  luckily  their 
boat  grounded  on  a  rock.  They  managed  to 
get  out  on  the  rock,  and  had  passed  out  the 
jug,  when  the  boat,  relieved  of  their  weight, 
floated  away,  and  was  drifting  seaward  with 
a  strong  north-east  wind.  They  floundered 
to  the  shore  with  their  boots  full  of  water. 
The  weather  was  icy  cold,  and  it  was  almost 
night.  They  could  just  stiver*  and  go,  having 
lost  all  except  what  they  stood  in  and  the  jug. 
In  this  condition  they  arrived  at  the  house 
where  they  were  received  by  Smith.  They 
handed  Smith  the  jug  and  said,  "  Take  a 
hearty  draught;  it  is  good  for  all  complaints 

*Stiver,  a  local  word  uted  by  the  fishermen. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    233 

of  long  standing.  Smith  shook  his  head. 
But  they  pressed  him  with  arguments,  and  at 
last  persuaded  the  poor  fellow,  whose  appe- 
tite was  so  strong  that  he  was  about  to  give 
way  ,^  when  David  put  in  his  appearance  with 
a  semblance  of  an  accident  on  his  part,  and 
broke  the  jug.  This  brought  a  drunken  howl 
from  the  men  that  ought  to  have  put  to  shame 
a  hyena.  Their  mirthful  gabble  now  turned 
into  frowns  with  deplorable  complaints  for 
the  loss  of  the  jug. 

David  left  for  home  having  no  fear  that 
harm  or  danger  would  come  to  Smith  now. 
With  a  shake  down  of  hay  on  the  kitchen 
floor,  Smith  made  them  as  comfortable  as  his 
circumstances  would  admit.  When  the  effe6t 
of  the  liquor  began  to  pass  away  they  suffered 
excruciating  pains  with  their  frost-bitten  feet. 
With  many  a  resolution  formed,  and  many  a 
curse  expressed,  they  vowed  that  they  would 
never  more  drink  liquor.  Their  firm  resolves 
they  kept  for  a  time,  but  their  ungovernable 


234    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

love  for  rum  proved  stronger  than  their  vows. 
It  was  some  days  before  they  were  able  to  go 
home,  (two  of  them  were  always  lame  after- 
wards, but  rheumatism  had  to  bear  the  blame 
while  rum  went  scot  free.) 

David's  cabin  seemed  what  it  really  was, 
the  most  secluded  and  quiet  place  in  christen- 
dom.  His  favorite  seat  was  a  rustic  chair 
ingeniously  wrought  by  his  own  hands.  He 
usually  sat  by  the  cabin  window  where  a 
glimpse  of  the  Penobscot  bay  could  be  seen 
through  a  bowery  avenue,  thinking  of  many 

• 

things  past,  but  always  returning  to  the  thought 
that  kept  his  brain  active — Mary. 

He  made  no  inquiry,  sought  for  no  infor- 
mation, and  did  not  know  what  had  become 
of  her,  nor  would  he  allow  any  derogatory 
remarks  about  her  to  be  made  in  his  presence. 
He  was  logical,  and  tried  his  best  not  to  blame 
her,  mentally  exaggerating  her  many  virtues. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

MARY  was  married,  and  the  honey 
month  was  only  too  quickly  gone. 
Her  husband  now  must  keep  the  pot  boiling, 
and  necessity  obliged  him  to  go  to  sea.  Mary's 
home  was  with  her  husband's  father  who 
had  a  large  family.  He  was  good  natured  but 
inclined  to  be  shiftless,  and  put  off  what  might 
be  done  today  till  some  other  time.  A  farmer 
and  a  fisherman,  yet  neither  one  nor  the  other 
only  when  want  made  it  absolutely  necessary. 
Her  mother-in-law  was  as  good  a  woman  as 
ever  lived,  but  had  become  discouraged  years 
ago,  and  had  learned  the  bitter  lesson  by  ex- 
perience, "that  what  can't  be  cured  must  be 
endured." 

Mary  was  a  descendent  from  stock  that 
would  make  old  shears  cut,  and  now  went  to 
work  to  renovate  the  house  from  cellar  to 


236    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

garret,  turning  things  upside  down  generally. 
She  began  to  scrub  and  thump,  with  the  soap 
suds  flying  half  mast  high,  and  drove  the  old 
man  into  the  pig  pen  or  some  where  else  to 
smoke  his  pipe.  The  old  trash  that  had  lum- 
bered the  house  for  half  a  century  was  hove 
out  of  doors,  or  out  of  the  chamber  window 
helter  skelter,  The  old  cat  with  her  kittens, 
her  back  and  tail  up,  ran  under  the  barn, 
while  the  yellow  dog,  with  his  tail  between 
his  legs,  had  taken  for  the  woods,  howling, 
accidently  or  on  purpose,  got  scalt. 

The  young  ones  got  Indian  bread  and  milk 
for  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper,  while  the 
old  man  was  served  with  a  hakes  tail  and 
baked  potatoes.  It  was  blue  Monday  every 
day  until  the  house  was  as  clean  as  soap  and 
sand  could  make  it.  The  old  man,  ill  at  ease, 
thought  of  the  hand-writing  on  the  wall  and 
cried,  "  Mene,  Mene,  Tekel,  Upharsin." 

Mary  finished  her  scrubbing,  and  had  the 
seven  by  nine  glass  replaced  in  the  window 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    237 

sashes  in  lieu  of  old  hats  and  rags.  The 
smoky  ceiling  was  white-washed,  and  the 
dingy  walls  neatly  papered.  The  little  furni- 
ture they  had,  Mary  arranged  with  formal 
order  to  appear  to  the  best  advantage. 

The  old  lady,  Mary's  mother-in-law,  was 
pleased  to  see  the  old  house  once  more  neat 
and  orderly  yet  sadly  meditated  upon  the  cares 
and  troubles  she  had  sustained.  She  had  be- 
come weary  in  well  doing,  and  remembered 
the  time  when  she  came  to  the  same  house  a 
blushing  bride  more  than  a  score  and  ten 
years  ago  with  flattering  hopes  which  were 
never  realized. 

The  ways  of  Mary  brought  home  to  her 
mind  her  own  experience.  She  had  seen  her 
beauty  fade,  fruition  end  in  care  and  trouble, 
and  hope  delayed  until  the  heart  ached.  Her 
emulation  and  ambition  were  gone. 

Mary  had  kept  her  father-in-law  usefully 
employed  in  cutting  wood  and  bringing  water 
from  the  spring  until  it  was  dry,  which,  he 


238    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OP    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

solemnly  affirmed,  had  not  been  the  case 
before  for, fifty  years.  Mary  with  gentle  en- 
treaty persuaded  the  old  man  to  clear  up  the 
external  surroundings  of  the  house,  lending  a 
hand  herself  when  not  employed  alleviating 
her  mother-in-law  from  the  labor  of  the 
housework,  which  was  caused  in  a  measure 
by  the  inconveniences  she  was  obliged  to 
submit  to,  proceeding  from  the  habit  of  idle- 
ness, sloth  and  laziness  on  the  part  of  her 
husband,  who  more  than  thirty  years  ago  had 
promised  in  the  presence  of  a  venerable  God- 
fearing man  that  as  long  as  his  life  should 
last  he  would  foster  and  treat  her  with  affec- 
tion and  support  her  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 
The  old  dog  Jowler,  a  pet  and  favorite  of  the 
family  had  come  home  and  taken  up  his  quar- 
ters in  the  barn,  but  could  not  be  coaxed  to 
come  into  the  house.  A  scalt  dog  as  well  as  a 
burnt  child  dreads  the  fire.  Jowler  resented  the 
ill  turn  and  surly  treatment,  and  Mary  had  one 
enemy  in  her  new  home,  but  that  was  a  minor 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    HOBETSON.       239 

trouble,  since  she  erroneously  believed  that 
dogs  and  fleas  were  inseparable. 

The  order  of  things  with  Mary's  manage- 
ment of  domestic  affairs,  stimulated  the  old 
man  to  a  more  vigorous  exertion.  He  was 
hale  and  hearty,  and  some  how  he  was  ill  at 
ease  sitting  in  the  chimney  corner  smoking  his 
pipe  as  had  been  his  custom,  and  now  went 
to  work.  Only  a  month  had  passed  since 
Mary's  husband  went  away.  In  that  time  a 
great  mutation  had  taken  place,  brought  about 
by  Mary's  inborn  peculiar  bent  of  mind. 

The  weekly  mail  at  last  brought  a  letter  for 
Mary  from  her  husband.  The  contents  in- 
formed her  that  he  had  shipped  first  officer  of 
a  brig  bound  for  the  island  of  Cuba  to  load 
sugar  for  a  port  north  of  Hatteras.  If  all  went 
well  he  was  in  hopes  to  be  at  home  in  three 
months.  Many  expressions  of  endearment  and 
the  formal  good  bye,  were  the  purport  of  the 
last  letter  he  probably  ever  wrote.  The  brig 
was  capsized  at  sea  outward  bound  and  he 


240    THE    KOMANTJC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

was  drowned,  and  months  elapsed  before  the 
sad  tidings  reached  home. 

Mary,  after  reading  her  letter  until  she  knew 
it  by  heart,  said  to  herself,  a  poor  girl  has  got 
more  courage  than  sense  to  marry  a  roving 
sailor.  She  supposed  that  she  was  now  in  her 
future  home,  and  was  zealously  endeavoring 
to  make  it  as  comfortable  as  possible.  Things 
seemed  to  prosper;  and  with  fore-thought, 
economical  management,  and  industry  on 
Mary's  part,  brought  about  strange  results. 
With  her  frugality  she  had  been  able  to  pur- 
chase an  additional  cow,  and  now  had  three 
pigs  in  the  pen  to  keep  the  solitary  pig  com- 
pany that  had  a  prior  right. 

By  hook  or  crook  she  managed  to  get  the  old 
man  to  plant  an  acre  of  potatoes  in  the  place 
of  the  small  patch  which  had  been  his  us- 
ual custom.  Mary  and  her  mother-in-law 
worked  together  in  harmony,  and  even  her 
father-in-law  liked  her,  notwithstanding  she 
wheedled  and  coaxed  him  with  soft  words,  and 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    241 

made  him  earn  his  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his 
brow.  Mary  like  all  of  us,  was  falible,  and 
sometimes  the  chimney  smoked;  a  smoky 
chimney  is  *  *  *  *  *  *  two  bad  things. 

The  time  went  on,  the  rose  of  beauty 
bloomed,  the  little  tit-mouse  with  its  shrill  and 
wild  notes  sings  on  the  branches  of  the  arom- 
atic Balm  of  Gilead  tree  that  grows  before  the 
door.  The  swallows  build  their  nests  in  the 
eaves  and  there  rear  their  young.  The  red 
breasted  robin  skips  over  the  green  lawn  with 
his  sharp  eye  on  the  lookout. 

Now  here,  now  there,  when  the  sweet  mel- 
ody of  his  song  is  heard,  the  husbandman 
makes  ready  for  rain.  In  the  sylvan  glen 
while  the  morning  sun  still  shades  the  valley, 
and  when  the  cuckoo's  note  of  love  to  his 
mate  is  heard,  a  sultry  day  follows. 

Mary's  favorite  seat  was  on  the  stoop,  that 
led  to  the  front  door  with  a  rustic  seat.  Here 
could  be  seen  a  wild  fascinating  scenery  diver- 
sified by  woods,  mountains,  rugged  hills  and 


242    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

ledges, — a  frequented  thoroughfare  where 
fishing  and  coasting  vessels  were  continually 
passing.  From  this  retreat  the  view  facing 
the  east  was  unobstructed.  On  the  left  there 
stood  stately  trees  of  lofty  grandeur.  On  the 
right  the  landscape  is  one  of  undulating  past- 
ures interspersed  with  evergreen  shrubbery, 
when  the  sable  shades  of  night  overshadow 
the  house.  Silence  pervades  the  place,  save 
when  the  sweet  songs  of  the  nightingale  or  the 
placid  notes  of  the  whippowill  are  heard. 

The  fleeting  days  of  spring  glided  quickly 
away,  like  a  river  whose  onward  flowing  to 
the  ocean  is  rapid  and  free.  Mary's  ignorance 
is  blisj,  'tis  folly  to  be  wise.  The  trite  maxim 
told  by  the  Sage's  "  Lang  Syne"  would  be  ap- 
plicable now  to  Mary's  case.  She  was  elated, 
with  florid  hopes,  fluttering  with  joy  as  she 
went  about  her  work.  Lark  like,  singing 
snatches  of  songs  with  her  rugged  health  and 
rosy  dimpled  cheeks,  busy  as  a  bee,  with  her 
nimble  ringers  making,  fixing  and  altering 


MARY  SEATED  ON  THE  STOOP  AT  HER  COTTAGE  DOOR. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    24^ 

things  generally  and  wondering  what  her  hus- 
band would  say  when  he  came  home. 

The  fugitive  spring  refuses  to  stay,  and 
summer  comes  ushered  in  with  gentle  breezes, 
wafted  from  the  Balm  of  Gilead  tree,  blended 
with  the  perfume  of  lavender,  that  grows 
profusely  around  the  house.  The  sweet  ver- 
nal grass  that  imparts  its  pleasant  odor,  Mary 
gathered  in  clusters  and  put  it  in  the  antiqua- 
ted English  pitchers  that  were  common  in 
those  days  in  the  fishermen's  and  sailors'  cot- 
tages. 

On  a  beautiful  day  in  late  summer,  Mary 
was  sitting  on  the  rustic  seat  on  the  front  door 
stoop  (her  usual  practice)  shaded  by  the 
branches  of  the  Balm  of  Gilead  tree.  A  mild 
west  wind  was  blowing  and  a  field  of  golden 
barley  waving  in  the  wind,  ripe  for  the  garner. 
The  field  in  front  of  the  house  was  a  gradual 
descent  to  the  shingle  beach,  a  hundred  rods 
away,  washed  by  the  tide  waters  of  the  beau- 
tiful Penobscot.  Fishing  boats  and  coasting 


246    THE    ROMANTIC     STORY    OF    DAVID  ROBERTSON. 

schooners  were  sailing  by  with  all  their  sails 
set  and  drawing.  The  field  was  shorn  of  its 
flowery  verdure  by  the  hay-makers,  but  yet 
remained  a  picture  of  beauty. 

For  days,  weeks  and  months,  Mary  was 
anxiously  waiting  for  her  husband,  who  would 
never  come.  When  the  weekly  mail  arrived, 
she  invariably  went  to  the  post  office,  rain  or 
shine,  as  long  as  circumstances  would  admit 
only  to  return  disappointed. 

Eight  months  had  gone  by  since  Mary's 
husband  went  to  sea,  she  was  now  disheart- 
ened and  depressed  in  mind  and  spirits. 
Through  the  long  pleasant  summer  days  she 
would  sit  on  the  bowery  stoop  ihonghtfully 
reflecting  on  the  past  and  speculating  on  the 
future.  Sometimes  a  transient  hope  of  possi- 
bility that  her  husband  was  living  only  to  be 
rejected  as  a  preposterous  conclusion.  A 
neighbor  brought  her  a  letter  at  last  with  a 
line  of  black  on  the  margi  n  of  the  wrapper. 
She  startled  and  trembled  with  intuitive  per- 


V     I 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    247 

ceptions.  It  told  her  the  sad  story  without 
breaking  the  seal. 

Mary  was  chaste  as  a  maiden,  faithful  when 
a  wife,  and  now  a  widow,  and  more  than  that, 
all  in  a  year. 

Mary  passed  a  lonesome  winter  with  the 
old  folks — she  and  her  mother-in-law  living 
together  in  unity,  consoling  and  comforting 
each  other  in  their  mutual  afflictions.  Amidst 
their  distress  the  black  cloud  that  hung  over 
the  old  homestead  had  a  silver  lining,  as  they 
had  a  bountiful  supply  of  provisions  for  win- 
ter, an  impressive  difference  between  the  stint 
and  scantness  that  Mary's  mother-in-law  had 
been  obliged  to  conform  to  for  so  many  years. 
Her  larder  was  stored  with  beef,  pork  and 
bacon;  her  pantry  with  butter  and  cheese;  the 
cellar  with  vegetables  and  potatoes.  In  the 
chamber  corn  and  barley,  all  brought  about  by 
Mary's  ideas  and  intelligence. 

On  an  early  spring  morning  Mary  left  the 
old  house  to  go  home  and  live  with  her  father, 


248    THE    KOMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

which  grieved  the  old  folks  to  the  heart,  to 
part  with  her.  The  neighbors  with  good  will 
came  to  bid  her  farewell,  and  when  she  was 
ready  to  go,  the  family,  neighbors,  dog  and 
all,  walked  with  her  to  the  shore  where  the 
boat  was  in  waiting  to  take  her  away. 

When  the  last  good-bye  was  said  with, 
"Good  speed,"  they  sadly  and  slowly  went 
home.  The  old  man  said  that  Mary  was 
better  than  gold,  at  the  same  time  wiping  his 
moist  eyes  with  his  hand. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

DURING  the  winter  the  charm  of 
solitude  which  David  found  so  con- 
genial, was  broken  now  and  then  by  Smith 
and  an  occasional  visit  from  the  Scotchman 
accompanied  with  some  intimate  crony,  who 
were  apt  to  stop  until  they  wore  their  wel- 
come out.  When  the  Scotchman  was  present 
David  kept  the  nets  out  of  sight  to  avoid  the 
Scotchman's  gratuitous  advice  which  David 
counted  for  naught.  On  one  of  the  Scotch- 
man's visits  he  remarked  to  David,  "  You  did 
well  last  year  with  your  weir,  and  not  to  be 
wondered  at.  You  have  got  the  best  berth  to 
take  fish  in  there  is  in  Penobscot  bay."  He 
said  with  undue  fondness  for  his  own  opinion, 
"  If  I  had  your  berth  I  would  make  a  fortune." 
David  said,  "  You  may  have  it  and  welcome." 
The  Scotchman's  surprise  was  without  bounds 


250    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

or  limit.  When  he  found  his  tongue  he  said, 
:?  That  bodes  no  good.  The  moon  is  at  the 
full,  you  have  got  the  lune's*,  and  your  wits 
have  gone  wool  gathering."  After  sober 
second  thought  he  made  David  an  apology- 
saying,  "I  always  went  off  half  cocked."  He 
went  home  rejoicing  at  his  own  good  fortune 
yet  thinking  that  evil  days  had  come  to  poor 
David,  and  his  mind  was  certainly  shattered- 
There  is  no  uncertainty  about  it. 

When  David  had  completed  his  nets  he 
followed  his  usual  vocation  with  his  gun  and 
dog.  When  the  tempestuous  storms  of  March 
prevail  he  sat  in  his  arm-chair  before  the 
cheerful  fire  with  a  book,  but  made  a  specialty 
of  studying  Aunt  Nancy's  old  Bible.  Sages 
of  old  as  well  as  modern,  have  told  that  all 
men  have  a  money  price  and  "The  love  of 
money  is  the  root  of  all  evil."  Be  that  as  it 
may,  the  reverence  that  David  had  for  the  old 
Bible  remains  a  doubtful  maxim  to  those 

*Affedled    by    madness. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    2^1 

living  that  knew  David  well.  As  regards  to 
the  tenets  of  his  religious  creed  he  was  silent, 
but  evidently  manifested  his  belief  in  prayer 
and  devotion  to  his  Creator  and  that  interdic- 
tion surely  followed  them  that  failed  to  obey 
divine  law. 

It  was  early  spring  when  David  got  the 
Rover  ready  to  carry  his  primary  and  unique 
scheme  into  effect.  Smith  was  to  go  with 
him.  and  they  were  to  make  their  homes  on 
board  the  schooner  while  tending  the  nets. 

The  locality  where  David  set  the  nets  was 
off  the  rocky  points  that  project  into  the  bay 
where  there  were  coves,  in  lieu  of  a  harbor, 
where  the  Rover  could  lay  at  anchor  except- 
ing in  heavy  weather. 

From  these  headlands  it  was  impracticable 
to  build  weirs  owing  to  the  depth  of  the 
water  and  the  rocky  bottom.  When  there 
was  a  fresh  south-west  wind  the  salmon  fol- 
low the  surf  that  breaks  on  the  shore.  On 

NOTE.     The  migrating  salmon  make  their  appearance  on  the  Maine 
coast  in  April  and  continue  until  July  to  assend  the  rivers  for  spawning  . 


252    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

such  days  they  were  taken  in  large  quantities 
by  David  and  Smith. 

When  there  was  a  breeze  at  night  these 
salmon  were  put  on  board  the  Rover  and 
taken  to  Thomaston*,  where  they  were  turned 
over  to  an  agent.  With  all  possible  dispatch, 
the  owners  then  came  back  home  to  look 
after  the  nets  which  was  absolutely  necessary. 
This  necessitated  work  without  sleep,  but  the 
returns  for  fresh  salmon  were  far  in  excess  of 
the  smoked. 

The  Scotchman  with  elated  mind  toiled 
early  and  late  building  the  weir,  still  remain- 
ing tenacious  of  his  own  opinion,  and  locating 
the  weir  off  a  projecting  point  in  a  more  ex- 
posed situation  than  where  David  had  his  weir 
the  previous  year. 

His  anticipations  and  anxiety  overcame  his 
prudence  and  discretion.  He  built  the  weir 
long  before  the  migrating  fish  would  arrive. 
When  asked  by  an  old  weather-wise  fisher- 

*Now  Rockland. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    2^3 

man  the  reason  of  building  the  weir  so  early, 
he  said,  "  It  is  the  early  bird  that  catches  the 
worm."  The  fisherman  replied,  "  If  we  get 
the  line  gale  your  weir  instead  of  catching 
worms  will  catch  the  devil." 

The    boat   fishermen   were   ashore 


OO          O 

clams  for  bait.  The  tide  served  late  when 
the  old  weather-wise  fisherman  said,  "  It  is 
now  the  last  of  March  and  we  have  not  had 
the  equinoctial  gale.  The  wind  is  north-east, 
do  you  mind  how  dismal  and  wailing  the 
wind  sounds  among  the  trees,  in  my  opinion 
we  shall  have  heavy  weather  before  morning." 
As  the  old  fisherman  predicted,  a  terrible 
gale  came  on  that  night  with  an  unusual  high 
tide  which  played  sad  havoc  with  the  Scotch- 
man's weir.  The  succeeding  morning  the 
Scotchman  was  looking  at  the  place  where 
the  weir  was.  Filled  with  anguish  and  great 
passion  he  exclaimed  in  Scotch  dialect,  "I 
maun  be  in  the  sheugh  o'  dule*  and  my  weir 

*I  wish  I  was  in  h  —  11. 


254    TIIE    HOMAXTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

in  Scotland."  The  dejected  and  down-hearted 
appearance  of  the  poor  Scotchman  was  pitiful 
to  look  upon.  The  fishermen  now  in  the 
place  of  laughing  and  ridiculing  him  at  his 
ludicrous  Scotch  dialect  as  it  had  been  their 
practice,  expressed  their  sympathy  by  words 
and  actions. 

The  material  of  which  the  weir  was  made 
was  washed  ashore  and  it  was  scattered  along 
the  shore  above  high  water  and  out  of  the 
tide  way.  A  consultation  was  held  among 
the  fishermen  and  the  result  was  they  agreed 
to  turn  to  and  rebuild  the  weir.  They  then 
said  to  the  Scotchman,  ff  You  go  to  the  main 
and  get  liquor  enough.''  This  proposition 
was  heartily  received  by  the  Scotchman,  who 
well  knew  where  the  rum  was  to  be  had  with- 
out going  to  the  main.  A  drunken  debauch 
or  carousal  lasted  until  the  weir  was  com- 
pleted. 

When  they  started  to  go  home  they  were 
all   more    or    less  intoxicated.     One  of  them 


<!KKKT1X(S    HKK    HUSBAND    WITH    AKMS    AKIMI5O. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    257 

had  a  shrew  for  a  wife  and  there  would  be  no 
quiet  in  the  house  with  her  when  he  had  been 
drinking.  He  dreaded  to  go  home  and  face 
the  music.  Before  he  got  to  the  house  he 
saw  her  standing  in  the  cottage  door  with  her 
arms  akimbo,  ready  to  greet  him. 

With  a  vehement  voice  she  said,  "Where 
have  you  been?"  He  answered,  "  My  dear, 
I  have  been  helping  Mr.  Holiday  build — " 
She  interrupted  him,  "Yes,  helping  Mr.  Holi- 
day get  drunk.  You  are  full  of  rum-  and  hot 
now.  I  wish  the  ship  had  sunk  that  brought 
that  Scotchman  over.  You  are  covered  in 
mud  from  your  head  to  your  heels."  "My 
dear,  how  could  I  help  that  working  in  the 
mud  flats?"  She  replied,  "You  could  not 
help  getting  drunk  either.  The  next  time 
you  come  home  hot  I  will  fasten  the  doors, 
and  you  can  sleep  in  the  barn.  He  then  with 
low  murmuring  said,  "  I  will  never  sleep  in 
the  barn  but  once."  She  caught  the  words 
that  were  hardly  intended  for  her  ears  and 


258     THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

replied  with  vehemency  of  anger,  "What  is 
the  reason  you  won't?"  "Cause  I  won't  get 
drund  again."  She  then  took  him  by  the  arm 
with  a  griping  press  which  made  him  cringe, 
and  led  him  into,  the  house. 

An  exuberant  abundance  of  salmon  in 
early  days  frequented  the  waters  of  Penob- 
scot  bay  during  the  spring  months.  In  the 
primitive  nets  of  David  and  Smith  they  were 
caught  in  abundance.  The  Scotchman  for 
this  reason  was  envious  of  David's  success, 
and  openly  manifested  his  emulous  malice  in 
the  presence  of  the  fishermen,  who  took  of- 
fence at  hearing  the  Scotchman  deride  David 
and  said  to  him,  "  You  are  the  most  ungrate- 
ful man  that  ever  lived.  If  it  had  not  been 
for  the  instigation  of  David  we  would  not 
have  rebuilt  your  weir,  now  stop  your  slan- 
derous tongue  or  we  will  get  our  bait  some- 
where else."  This  threat  of  menace  stopped 
the  ungrateful  Scotchman's  mouth.  Some  of 
the  fishermen  reported  to  David  the  magnil- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     259 

oquent  talk.  David  replied,  "  I  have  always 
thought  that  Mr.  Holiday  did  not  always  have 
a  due  sense  of  benefits  received."  David  en- 
tertained no  enmity  and  had  no  enemies  in 
return. 

The  mackerel  had  arrived  in  the  bay.  The 
fishermen  reported  they  were  fat  and  good 
size.  The  salmon  had  done  running  so  David 
and  Smith  took  up  their  nets,  The  fishermen 
now  wanted  David  to  fit  the  Rover  for  mack- 
ereling.  She  had  excellent  sailing  qualities, 
and  the  success  in  many  instances  depends  on 
the  vessel  getting  where  the  fish  have  been 
discovered  before  others  that  are  cruising  in 
the  near  vicinity.  When  cruising  they  are 
incessently  watching  with  a  spy-glass.  If  one 
of  the  fleet  succeed  in  raising  a  school,  every 
vessel  in  sight  within  ten  miles  will  be  mind- 
ful of  the  facl:  in  less  than  five  minutes.  Then 
every  effort  is  made  by  the  crew  by  spread- 
ing every  available  sail  bowsed  taut  by- 
willing  hands  as  quickly  as  possible,  then  the 


260    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON'. 

trial  of  speed  commences,  the  best  helmsman 
takes  the  helm,  and  the  sails  are  trimmed  to 
an  accuracy.  It  now  becomes  one  of  the 
most  exciting  scenes  of  a  mackerel  catcher. 
The  first  vessel  generally  heaves  to  under  the 
lee-bow  of  the  vessel  that  is  taking  mackerel 
and  throws  bait  and  often  takes  the  school 
while  the  vessel  on  the  weather  their  fish 
have  ceased  to  bite  and  an  end  has  come  to 
their  excitement.  With  slang  maledictions 
they  frequently  greet  the  vessel  that  has  taken 
their  fish.  Perhaps  before  the  lee  vessel  takes 
a  half  dozen  wash  barrels  some  other  vessel 
has  hove  to  and  to  leeward,  and  got  the  school 
along  side  while  they  in  turn  denounce  woe 
against  the  offender. 

When  the  request  was  made  by  the  fisher- 
men to  David  to  fit  the  Rover  for  mackerel- 
ing  he  shook  his  head.  He  could  not  endure 
being  in  the  company  of  the  fishermen  and  be 
obliged  to  listen  to  their  frivolous  talk  for  two 
months  at  least.  In  sympathy  however  with 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      261 

their  disappointment  he  would  charter  the 
Rover  to  them  on  a  share  if  they  would 
return  her  on  or  before  the  twentieth  of  Sep- 
tember before  the  equinox,  with  Skipper 
Thomas  in  charge,  who  was  an  old  and  ex- 
perienced fisherman  who  could  keep  the 
reckoning,  and  in  whose  confidence  he  could 
confide.  These  terms  were  satisfactory  and 
now  they  were  off  for  a  cruise,  and  as 
jolly  a  set  of  old  fish-killers  as  ever  sailed 
over  Neptune'  dominion.  In  the  Rover  they 
were  to  roam  on  the  ocean  in  search  of  mack- 
erel and  take  their  chances  as  to  what  fortune 
might  bring. 

To  make  a  success  in  catching  mackerel  it 
requires  activity  and  energy.  The  mackerel 
is  a  capricious  fish  and  continuously  changing 
its  haunts.  At  times  the  fishermen  will  seek 
in  vain  for  them;  at  other  times  they  are 
plenty  and  voracious,  and  will  often  bite  a  red 
or  white  rag.  The  mackerel  essentially  dif- 
fer. Some  seasons  they  are  fat  and  large, 


262    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

and  found  in  great  plentitude  on  the  New 
England  coast,  while  at  others  they  are  lean, 
small  and  scarce. 

More  than  one  young  expert  fisherman 
claims  with  undoubting  assurance  that  they 
have  caught  sixty  mackerel  in  a  minute  with 
two  lines.  If  this  rapid  work  is  kept  up  the 
crew  of  a  fisherman  say  fifteen  hands,  would 
catch  a  whole  fare  in  less  than  half  a  day.* 

The  Elysian  days  of  mackerel  fishermen 
with  their  lines,  jigs  and  beautiful  sharp 
schooners  have  gone  by.  In  their  place  the 
destructive  steam  seiners  have  nearly  annihi- 
liated  the  tinker  mackerel  that  abounded  in 
every  cove,  harbor  and  bay  along  the  entire 
coast  of  Maine. 

*This  statement  was  published  in  the  government  report    of     fisher- 
ies, 1853. 


ANClENTjFISHERMAN    Of   THE   OLD   SCHOOL. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

IT  happened  in  the  early  days  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  that  a  sudden  appearance 
of  a  school  of  fat  mackerel  came  among  the 
islands  in  Penobscot  bay  and  environs  in 
large  quantities.  They  were  scooped  up  with 
pans  and  speared  with  pitchforks,  and  women 
and  children  joined  in  the  excitement  pro- 
puced  by  the  remarkable  and  unusual  appear- 
ance of  mackerel. 

The  old  fisherman  in  the  corner  by  the  fire 
or  on  pleasant  days  on  a  rustic  bench  where 
the  view  is  unobstructed,  nursing  his  infirm- 
ity, now  past  labor,  is  more  sensitive  to 
unkind  words  that  are  uttered  by  his  children 
or  his  children's  wives  than  in  the  days  of 
yore,  but  yields  to  them  on  account  of  his 
feebleness. 

In  early  summer  at  the  close  of  the  day, 


266    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

when  the  lightening  bugs  first  made  their  ap- 
pearance his  sluggish  blood  quickens  in  his 
veins,  and  on  the  morrow  he  will  try  to  get 
the  boys  to  go  with  him  to  try  once  more  to 
catch  mackerel. 

The  singular  dialed  of  the  grizzley  old  fisher- 
men a  half  a  century  or  more  which  he  con- 
sidered so  appropriate  has  not  found  its 
way  as  yet  in  the  comprehensive  dictionary. 
Their  manners  are  coarse  and  harsh,  their 
habits  of  life  are  without  rule  or  order,  but 
nevertheless  their  a6ts  of  kindness  and  hospi- 
tality are  not  exceeded  by  any  and  equalled 
by  few;  their  opportunities  are  few  to  im- 
prove and  their  temptations  are  many  to 
deviate  from  the  true  course,  consequently 
they  err  through  ignorance. 

Chebacco  boats,  pinkies,  jiggers  were  the 
names  applied  to  their  fishing  crafts.  Their 
provision  which  they  called  grub,  when  served 
up  they  defined  as  smother,  (a  pot  pie)  dnjj', 
(  a  pudding) ,  joe  /loggers,  (pancakes) ,  dunde- 


TItE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    267 

funk  (fried  pork,  molasss  and  bread).  When 
talking  about  oil  clothes  they  say  He  skins, 
their  hat  is  soif-wester,  their  boots  stampers, 
their  knife  is  generally  secured  with  a  lan- 
yard, (a  short  line),  their  fishing  knives  they 
term  throaters  and  splitters,  their  aprons 
of  leather  or  canvass,  is  called  a  batvel,  their 
wives  are  invariably  called  our  ivimen. 
They  will  tell  you  how  many  shots  are  neces- 
sary on  different  fishing  grounds.  By  a  shot 
they  mean  thirty  fathom. 

They  use  a  substitute  for  mittens  which 
they  call  nippers,  their  boats  are  divided  into 
compartments  called  kits,  where  they  throw 
their  fish.  Their  fish  stories  are  without  end, 
narrating  their  own  experience  and  the  tradi- 
tions of  their  sires.  They  firmly  believe  in 
witches  and  dreams  and  will  not  enter  on  an 
undertaking  on  Friday.  They  will  prove  this 
belief  by  signs  and  omens  that  have  come 
under  their  own  observation.  If  occasion 
requires  they  will  make  use  of  their  neighbor's 


268    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

fields  to  spread  their  bait  nets  caring  nothing 
for  the  pre-emptive  rights  of  the  proprietors. 
If  a  remonstrance  is  made  they  will  brow- 
beat in  an  arrogant  manner  any  who  dare  to 
remind  them  of  their  trespass. 

If  you  visit  them  in  their  cottages  you  will 
undoubtedly  receive  a  hearty  welcome,  the 
best  they  have  will  be  none  too  good  for  you. 
When  sickness  or  trouble  comes  to  their 
neighbors  none  are  so  ready  or  willing  to  aid 
and  assist  by  night  or  day  as  they,  without  a 
thought  of  recompense.  No  matter  how 
dark  and  stormy  the  night,  they  are  willing  to 
risk  their  lives  and  go  to  the  main  for  the 
doctor.* 

*See  report  on  American  Fisheries,  1853,  Lorenzo  Sabine  of  Mass- 
achusetts. 

NOTE.  When  the  United  States  Government  wanted  men  to  man 
their  warships  and  gun  boats  in  the  Rebellion  of  1861  to  1864,  the 
Maine  fishermen  were  ready  and  willing  to  serve  in  the  Navy,  volun- 
teered and  passed  examination  and  did  their  country  service  in  all  the 
grades  from  able  seamen  to  commanders.  These  men  knew  nothing 
about  the  red  tape  of  the  old  school  navy  and  cared  less.  Many  a 
valiant  volunteer  officer  and  man  spent  their  boyhood  on  board  a  fish- 
ing boat. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

DAVID  and  Smith  passed  the  summer 
in  their  respective  boats,  catching 
mackerel  among  the  group  of  islands  that  are 
thickly  scattered  in  the  waters  of  the  Penob- 
scot. 

On  Saturdays  they  invariably  went  home  to 
store  their  fish  and  pack  and  prepare  them  for 
shipment.  Smith  yet  remained  a  tenant  at 
will  of  Mr.  Lane's,  and  still  merited  the 
honest  confidence  which  David  reposed  in 
him. 

David  spent  the  Sabbath  reading  and  de- 
liberating with  intellectual  enjoyment,  alone 
with  his  Bible.  He  was  not  like  the  world  a 
willing  slave  to  custom  and  fashion. 

"  Slave  to  no  sect,  who  takes  no  private  road, 
And  looks  through  nature,  up  to  nature's  God." 

It  happened  on  a  pleasant  Sunday  afternoon 
as  David  sat  on  a  rustic  bench  under  the 


270    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

spreading  branches  of  a  birch  tree  in  medita- 
tion. The  view  from  here  the  skillful  artist 
would  fail  to  depict  within  the  limits  of  a 
single  canvass.  The  famous  painter  of 
scenery  would  be  defective  but  the  deserning 
eye  would  preceive  at  a  sweeping  glance  the 
beautiful,  perfect  and  complete  whole — A 
quiet  stillness  prevades.  The  maple  trees 
were  changing  their  summer  verdure  to  a 
variety  of  shades  of  vermilion. 

His  agreeable  musing  was  interrupted  by  a 
strange  schooner  that  came  to  anchor  off  Mr. 
Lane's  fish  house,  then  landing  a  noisy  set  of 
clamorous  people  ashore.  David  with  his 
spy  glass  observed  the  demon  rum  had  full 
sway,  in  the  place  of  sense. 

With  an  uneasy  apprehension  of  danger  for 
Smith  he  went  in  the  wherry  after  him  and 
brought  him  back  to  his  cabin.  Ten  months 
had  gone  by  since  Smith  had  drank  or  tasted 
spirituous  liquors,  in  the  mean  time  the  shame- 
ful drunken  revilers  ran  riot  pillaging  and  des- 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.      271 

troying  without  hinderance.  The  fish  hawks 
David  had  watched  build  their  nest  year  after 
year  on  the  tall  spruce  tree  with  a  right  prior 
to  his  own,  the  ruthful  marauder's  shot. 

The  next  morning  the  marauding  schooner 
got  under  way  and  undertook  to  go  between 
the  islands  where  there  is  a  rocky  bar  extend- 
ing from  one  to  the  other,  not  being  ac- 
quainted they  run  the  schooner  ashore  where 
she  remained  hard  and  fast.  David  and 
Smith  were  watching  her  when  she  struck. 
Smith  said,  "There!  I  am  glad  of  it!"  "No,' 
David  replied,  "  You  ought  not  to  rejoice  over 
any  one's  misfortune  caused  by  rum."  He 
said  no  more  but  his  countenance  was  a  token 
of  his  feelings.  The  schooner  was  ashore  on 
large  bowlder  rocks  and  the  tide  was  making 
ebb.  When  the  tide  left  her  she  in  all  proba- 
bilities would  heel  off,  and  fill  with  water  be- 
fore she  would  right.  David  and  Smith,  with 
a  few  scantlings  went  to  the  schooner  in  the 


272    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

wherry  with  all  possible  haste,  as  "  time  and 
tide  waits  for  no  man."  They  had  done 
nothing  on  board  and  did  not  know  what  to 
do.  There  was  no  time  for  talk.  David  a6l- 
ing  without  a  medium  or  any  intervention, 
with  the  scantling  shored  the  vessel  up,  he 
then  had  the  anchors  let  go  on  each  side  the 
throat  halyards,  made  fast  to  the  cables  and 
hauled  taut.  By  this  means,  David,  with 
Smith's  assistance  saved  the  schooner. 

The  men  on  board  the  schooner  were  now 
sober  (when  not  under  the  influence  of  ardent 
spirits  were  not  corrupt  beyond  recovery) 
and  now  wanted  to  recompense  David,  who 
said  to  them,  "You  are  welcome  to  our 
services  in  saving  the  schooner,  should  any  of 
you  in  after  life  meet  others  in  distress  do  to 
them  as  you  would  like  to  be  done  by,  but 
your  duty  seems  plain  to  me,  your  people 
restore  to  Mr.  Lane  the  value  of  what  he  has 
lost,  and  do  so  no  more. 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    273 

Skipper  Thomas  was  a  man  of  mark  among 
the  fishermen,  and  as  true  to  his  trust  as  the 
magnetic  needle  of  his  compass  to  the  north 
pole.  At  the  specified  time  he  dropped  the 
anchor  of  the  Rover  off  Mr.  Lane's  house  and 
delivered  her  up  to  David  with  twenty  barrels 
of  mackerel. 

Skipper  Thomas  and  the  boys  as  he  styled 
them  (the  youngest  amongst  them  were  jog- 
ing  on  to  fifty)  all  hale  and  hearty,  excepting 
now  and  then  afflicted  by  rheumatism,  but  the 
never  failing  remedy  in  weal  or  woe  was  new 
rum  sure,  for  they  had  taken  it  for  a  preven- 
tive and  a  cure  times  out  of  mind,  and  were 
willing  to  bear  testimony  of  the  good  results. 

Their  mackerel  had  been  sold  and  they 
shared  each  man  from  two  to  three  hundred 
dollars.  They  would  winter  now  on  the  fat 
of  the  land.  With  buoyant  spirits  they  loaded 
their  wherries  with  their  winter  stores,  and  tak- 
ing a  jug  of  medicine  to  ward  off  an  attack  of  the 
dread  disease,  each  went  to  his  respective  home. 


274    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

In  O6lober,  David,  Smith  and  Mr.  Holiday 
put  their  fish  on  board  the  Rover  for  the 
Boston  market.  His  island  neighbors  brought 
their  produce  and  fish,  and  their  wives  sent 
their  knitting  work  for  David  to  sell  or 
exchange. 

After  the  Rover  was  loaded,  for  several 
days  the  weather  was  thick  and  rainy.  The 
following  Sunday  morning  the  sun  rose  clear, 
a  pacific,  fair  wind  was  blowing  from  an 
azure  sky,  yet  David  sat  in  contemplation  on 
sacred  things,  and  let  the  Rover  swing  to  her 
anchors.  The  Scotchman  remonstrated  em- 
phatically against  losing  so  good  a  chance. 
David  in  answer  said,  "  I  will  not  violate  the 
Sabbath.  The  Divine  Book  says  that  every 
man's  works  shall  be  made  manifest." 

In  due  time  the  Rover  arrived  in  Boston. 
On  the  succeeding  Sunday,  David  and  Smith 
dressed  in  new  clothes,  were  going  together  to 
the  venerable  Father  Taylor's  church.  Smith, 
no  longer  with  a  down-cast,  menial  look,  and 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     275 

a  bloated  face,  as  he  walked  by  the  side  of 
David,  but  with  the  self-respe6t  and  dignity  of  a 
gentleman.  The  traces  that  mark  the  beastly 
vice  of  intemperance  were  gone. 

When  David  and  Smith  were  ready  to  sail 
Mr.  Holiday  was  missing,  and  after  waiting 
for  two  days  they  were  reluctantly  obliged  to 
sail  without  him.  The  Scotchman  was  ad- 
di6ted  to  drink  more  or  less  strong  liquor, 
and  had  probably  fallen  in  bad  company. 
The  trite  maxim  still  remains  true,  "Evil 
communications  corrupt  good  manners."  Mr. 
Holiday  was  never  afterward  seen  or  heard 
of  by  David  or  Smith.  They  returned 
home  and  hauled  up  the  Rover  in  her  winter 
quarters.  Smith  kept  his  good  resolutions 
and  still  remained  a  tenant  at  will  of  Mr. 
Lane,  and  David  spent  the  winter  on  an 
adjacent  island. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

IN  the  near  vicinity  of  David  there  lived 
on  an  island,  several  families,  and 
among  them  an  exceedingly  old  couple,  now 
unable  to  bear  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day. 
Owing  to  the  infirmities  of  age  they  had 
become  poor,  notwithstanding  their  hundred 
acres  and  more  of  land.  They  had  two  cows 
that  a  kind  neighbor  took  care  of,  and  a  flock 
of  sheep,  part  of  the  wool  of  which  was  used 
by  the  old  dame,  and  the  residue  was  sold  to 
pay  the  town  rates.  They  had  raised  three 
sons  and  a  daughter,  all  of  whom  were  either 
dead  or  scattered  in  far  off  lands. 

Alas,  how  great  the  change  since  he,  with 
his  bride,  half  a  century  ago  came  to  the 
island,  cleared  the  land  of  the  stately  trees, 
and  built  the  primitive  log  cabin. 

The  aged  couple  often  sat  side  by  side  on 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OP    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    277 

pleasant  days,  upon  a  shaded  seat  where  could 
be  seen  the  waters  of  the  Penobscot  bay, 
which  served  to  cheer  their  hearts  by  its 
beauty. 

The  grass  is  as  green,  the  rose  as  fragrant, 
and  the  waters  of  the  bubbling  spring  as  clear 
and  cold  as  in  days  of  yore.  The  swallow, 
the  robin  and  the  bobolink  still  come  after 
the  vernal  equinox,  and  depart  with  the  first 
chilly  breath  of  Boreas.  The  summers  are  as 
hot,  and  the  winters  are  as  cold  now,  as  when 
he  came  a  young  man  with  his  enchanting 
dreams  of  blue  skies  and  sunny  days. 

He  had  lived  the  fleeting  years  of  youth 
and  manhood,  all  unconscious  of  his  happi- 
ness, and  in  his  advanced  age  realizes  with 
sad  regrets  the  joys  that  are  past  to  return  no 
more. 

These  old  folks  entertained  an  enthusiastic 
regard  for  David.  The  old  lady  had  sent  her 
knitting  by  him  to  Boston  to  exchange  it  for 
calico  and  groceries.  His  oft  repeated  visits 


278    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

were  the  greatest  pleasure  life  had  left  for 
them.  When  David  got  back  one  of  the  first 
things  he  did  was  to  go  and  deliver  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  knitting  work,  consisting  of  an 
abundant  supply  for  winter  use.  The  aged 
couple  well  knew  that  the  knitting  work 
would  not  bring  a  price  to  pay  a  tenth  part  of 
what  he  brought. 

When  the  cheerless  winter  was  ushered  in 
by  driving  snow  storms,  the  feeble  old  man 
was  confined  to  his  bed.  The  neighbors  in 
turn  kept  his  wife  supplied  with  fuel,  but 
most  of  the  day  she  was  alone  with  him.  All 
the  long  weary  nights  she  watched  alone. 

David  intended  to  live  in  his  cabin,  and  had 
made  previous  preparation  to  enjoy  his  soli- 
tude, but  the  thoughts  of  his  neighbors,  whose 
years  of  life  were  so  far  advanced,  troubled 
him.  The  caring  for  them  seemed  to  be  a 
duty,  but  he  was  not  obeying  the  dictates  of 
his  conscience.  The  consequence  was  he  let 
the  fire  go  out  on  his  hearth,  boarded  up  the 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.     279 

windows  and  loaded  the  wherry  with  provis- 
ions. Then  with  his  dog  and  gun  he  went  to 
care  for  the  aged  people. 

Imagination  can  hardly  conceive,  nor  pen 
describe  the  gratitude  of  this  lonely  couple, 
now  so  near  the  sunset  of  their  lives. 

A  sage  of  old  has  said,  "There  is  a  divinity 
that  shapes  our  ends."  Mary,  hearing  of  the 
distress  of  her  old  neighbors,  with  whom  she 
had  spent  many  happy  hours  in  her  girlhood 
days,  with  tender  hearted  compassion  for 
their  infirmities,  decided  to  go  and  do  what 
she  could  for  them,  never  having  a  thought 
that  David  was  there.  So,  thus,  David  and 
Mary  meet  again  and  all  brought  about  by  a 
similar  spirit  of  benevolence  dwelling  in 
each  of  their  hearts.  Here  they  passed  the 
winter 

By  want  not  shaken, 
Nor  by  wealth  allured, 

doing  everything  in  their  power  to  add  to 
the  comfort  of  the  aged  couple. 

The  dreary  winter  gave  place  to  welcome 


280    THE    ROMANTIC    STORY    OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON. 

spring,  the  time  for  David  to  set  his  salmon 
nets;  yet  neither  he  nor  Mary  would  leave 
the  old  couple  to  the  care  of  strangers. 
David's  humanity  and  benevolence  exceeded 
his  love  for  money,  nor  would  he  allow  am- 
bition to  disturb  his  mind. 

On  a  beautiful  spring  morning,  the  time 
that  animates  and  exhilarates  youth  and  man- 
hood, encourages  old  age  with  flattering 
hopes,  causes  the  trees  to  put  forth  their 
branches,  the  wild  pear  and  cherry  to  bud 
and  blossom,  the  mature  old  man  passed 
away  and  entered 

That  unseen  celestial  region, 
Which  admits  of  no  return. 

On  a  conspicuous  headland,  thickly  covered 
with  deciduous  and  evergreen  trees;  project- 
ing into  a  pacific  harbor,  where  vessels  pass 
and  repass,  and  where  it  was  a  contingent  oc- 
currence for  them  to  lay  at  anchor  near  the  bold 
shore  in  heavy  weather,  the  old  man  borne 
on  a  bier  by  his  neighbors  to  his  last  resting 
place,  was  buried  amidst  the  trees  on  the 


THE    ROMANTIC    STORY   OF    DAVID    ROBERTSON.    283 

brow  of  the  hill.  On  this  insular  wild-wood 
bluff  profusely  grows  around  its  verge  the 
sweet  eglantine  and  modest  columbine. 

David  and  Mary  walked  behind  the  coffin 
as  their  was  no  lineal  descendant  present. 

At  this  very  time  an  outward  bound 
schooner*  sailing  to  far  distant  lands  was  pass- 
ing; and  the  old  man's  son,  who  fortuitously 
happened  to  be  on  board,  saw  his  father's  re- 
mains carried  to  the  grave — a  sad  sight  that 
he  ever  held  in  memory. 

A  venerable  man  of  God*  stricken  in  years 
with  hoary  locks,  his  head  uncovered,  carried 
the  Bible,  walking  beside  the  procession  to 
the  grave,  and  there  from  the  Holy  Bible,  he 
read  the  appropriate  ninetieth  psalm. 

When  a  suitable  time  had  passed  after  his 
interment,  the  proclamation  in  the  old  church 
on  a  neighboring  island  of  an  intended  mar- 
riage between  David  and  Mary  was  made; 
and  this  event  was  soon  followed  by  a  quiet 
wedding,  and  thus  the  twain  at  last  were  one. 

"Captain  William  Veazie.     *Rev.  William  J.  Durgin. 


ADDENDUM. 

After  an  elapse  of  forty  years,  the  author  again  visited 
the  sacred  spot  where  the  old  couple  lay  at  rest.  The 
trees  formed  a  gloomy  barrier  on  all  sides  of  the  neg- 
lected graves;  not  a  leaf  fluttered,  and  deep  solitude 
and  silence  pervaded  the  lonely  place.  While  medi- 
tating on  the  past,  the  stillness  was  at  length  broken  by 
the  placid  notes  of  a  songbird.  Thoughtfully  I  lingered 
there  until  the  shades  of  evening  settled  on  the  insular 
bluff  and  then  I  reluctantly  left  the  fascinating  place. 


7 


A     000  672  524     6 


